Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ (29,276)	$ (2,103)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Change in restricted cash	603	2,395
Purchase of property and equipment	(111)	(400)
Intercompany Investing	0mho_IntercompanyInvesting
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,337)	(10,874)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(845)	(8,879)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	130,400us-gaap_ProceedsFromBankDebt	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromBankDebt
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(70,400)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfBankDebt	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfBankDebt
Net proceeds from (Repayments of) bank borrowings - financial services operations	(13,656)	(28,497)
Principal repayments of note payable-other and community development district bond obligations	(642)	(33)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	61	1,366
Intercompany Financing	0mho_IntercompanyFinancing	0mho_IntercompanyFinancing
Dividends paid	(1,219)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(1,219)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	44,544	(28,383)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	14,423	(39,365)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	15,535	128,725
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	29,958	89,360
Parent [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0	3,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Investing	1,158
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,158	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Net proceeds from (Repayments of) bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Principal repayments of note payable-other and community development district bond obligations	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	61	1,366
Intercompany Financing	0	(3,147)
Dividends paid	(1,219)	(1,219)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,158)	(3,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(44,749)	(31,968)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Change in restricted cash	603	2,395
Purchase of property and equipment	(97)	(363)
Intercompany Investing	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(741)	(9,289)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(235)	(7,257)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	130,400
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(70,400)
Net proceeds from (Repayments of) bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Principal repayments of note payable-other and community development district bond obligations	(642)	(33)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany Financing	(1,679)	1,072
Dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	57,679	1,039
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	12,695	(38,186)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	3,872	113,407
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	16,567	75,221
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	15,473	29,865
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Purchase of property and equipment	(14)	(37)
Intercompany Investing	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(596)	(1,585)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(610)	(1,622)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Net proceeds from (Repayments of) bank borrowings - financial services operations	(13,656)	(28,497)
Principal repayments of note payable-other and community development district bond obligations	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany Financing	521	2,075
Dividends paid	0	(3,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(13,135)	(29,422)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,728	(1,179)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	11,663	15,318
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	13,391	14,139
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0	(3,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Investing	(1,158)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,158)	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0
Net proceeds from (Repayments of) bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Principal repayments of note payable-other and community development district bond obligations	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany Financing	1,158	0
Dividends paid	0	3,000
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	1,158	3,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0

The cash outflow from the parent as a source of financing.

No definition available.

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The cash outflow from the parent as a source of investing.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

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The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) associated with funds that are not available for withdrawal or use (such as funds held in escrow) and are associated with underlying transactions that are classified as investing activities.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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The cash inflow from bank borrowing during the year.

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The net cash inflow or outflow in other borrowings not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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The cash inflow from a borrowing net of the cash outflow from repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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