Adjustment to self insurance reserves

No definition available.

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- Definition

Other Expenses, Real Estate Services

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e32123-109318

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Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			$ 8,584,000				$ 8,584,000	$ 26,930,000	$ 32,071,000
Charges included in homebuilding income before income taxes						66,600,000phm_OtherExpensesRealEstateServices
Adjustment to self insurance reserves	(15,200,000)phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves	84,500,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves					69,300,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)			(18,600,000)						49,000,000
Valuation allowance adjustment	$ 49,600,000			$ 73,700,000	$ 2,100,000,000		$ 45,600,000