Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012 Home Lawsuit	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2011 Home	Nov. 30, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Structural warranty provided by the company	10 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems	5 years
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems	2 years
Warranty for other components of a home	1 year
Company's warranty liability	$ 64,607,000	$ 87,061,000	$ 67,693,000	$ 93,988,000
Warranty liability associated with defective drywall	3,900,000		4,800,000
Number of homes containing or suspected of containing defective drywall	73		87
Number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved.	15
Additional Number of affected homes associated with repair costs	1
Payments made for the repair of homes containing defective drywall	1,300,000	5,400,000
Estimated additional charges for homes containing defective drywall	400,000	3,700,000
Estimated repair costs for homes containing defective drywall.	45,700,000
Accumulated number of homes identified affected associated with overall warranty liability.	468
Accumulated Number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved.	395
Payments made as repair costs for homes containing defective drywall	41,800,000
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant	11
Company's estimated liabilities for construction defect	92,100,000		94,900,000
Expenses associated with self-insurance	2,300,000	2,300,000
Performance bonds	330,000,000		361,600,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	61,800,000		63,800,000
Cash deposits	20,700,000		20,900,000
Letters of credit	200,000		1,700,000
Total deposits	20,900,000
Aggregate purchase price of land	$ 597,000,000