Debt MIF Warehousing Agreement (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum Borrowing Availability under all Credit Lines	$ 150,000	$ 125,000
Notes payable bank - financial services operations	123,648	$ 85,379
Warehousing Agreement - Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
M/I Financial Maximum Borrowing Capacity	110,000
Optional increase in borrowing availability	20,000
M/I Financial Temporary Increase Maximum Borrowing Capacity	130,000
Aggreate Maximum Principal Amount Permitted to be Outstanding Under All Warehousing Credit Lines	$ 150,000
LIBOR basis points	250
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.75%
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
M/I Financial Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 15,000
M/I Financial Temporary Increase Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 20,000
Minimum [Member] | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
LIBOR basis points	250
Maximum [Member] | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
LIBOR basis points	275