Stock Compensation Plans (Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares Activity Rollforward) (Details) (Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member], USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares Activity [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of year	3,211	3,822	3,042
Granted	974	806	1,461
Vested	(1,019)	(1,391)	(544)
Forfeited	(276)	(26)	(137)
Outstanding, end of year	2,890	3,211	3,822
Vested, end of year	75	60	51
Outstanding, beginning of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 11	$ 9	$ 9
Granted, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 19	$ 21	$ 10
Vested, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 10	$ 11	$ 11
Forfeited, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 15	$ 15	$ 10
Outstanding, end of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 15	$ 11	$ 9
Vested, end of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value	$ 13	$ 12	$ 10

Stock Compensation Plans (Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares Activity Rollforward) (Details) (Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares Activity [Roll Forward]

Outstanding, beginning of year

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Granted

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806us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
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1,461us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
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Vested

(1,019)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
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(1,391)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
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(544)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
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Forfeited

(276)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
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Outstanding, end of year

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Vested, end of year

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60phm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsVestedNumber
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51phm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsVestedNumber
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Outstanding, beginning of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 11us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 9us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Granted, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 19us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 21us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 10us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Vested, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 10us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 11us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Forfeited, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 10us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Outstanding, end of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Vested, end of year, weighted-average per share grant date fair value

$ 13phm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsVestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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$ 12phm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsVestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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= phm_RestrictedStockPerformanceSharesandRestrictedStockUnitsRSUsMember

$ 10phm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsVestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested, Number

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- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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-SubTopic 10

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

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- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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-Publisher FASB

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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