Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures - (Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Rialto
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impaired loans receivable, total gains (losses)	$ (4,400)	$ (1,600)	$ (6,700)	$ (2,800)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, total gains (losses)	(4,799)	(2,954)	(8,347)	(4,372)
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, total gains (losses)	(714)	0	(803)	(1,413)
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Rialto
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impaired loans receivable, carrying value	56,010	81,108	63,627	103,209
Impaired loans receivable, fair value	51,628	79,523	56,906	100,400
Impaired loans receivable, total gains (losses)	(4,382)	(1,585)	(6,721)	(2,809)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, carrying value	12,950	8,733	25,733	13,617
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, fair value	12,173	8,209	24,189	12,800
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, total gains (losses)	(777)	(524)	(1,544)	(817)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, carrying value	17,892	11,258	34,322	16,862
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, fair value	13,870	8,828	27,519	13,307
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, total gains (losses)	(4,022)	(2,430)	(6,803)	(3,555)
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, carrying value	2,520	4,689	7,703	13,326
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, fair value	2,636	5,431	11,303	14,343
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, total gains (losses)	116	742	3,600	1,017
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, carrying value	1,827	0	4,916	2,689
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, fair value	1,113	0	4,113	1,276
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, total gains (losses)	(714)	0	(803)	(1,413)
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Lennar Homebuilding
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Finished homes and construction in progress, carrying value	0	46,339	0	46,339
Finished homes and construction in progress, fair value	0	36,736	0	36,736
Finished homes and construction in progress, total gains (losses)	0	(9,603)	0	(9,603)
Land and land under development, carrying value	1,855	0	5,682	0
Land and land under development, fair value	1,500	0	4,925	0
Land and land under development, total gains (losses)	$ (355)	$ 0	$ (757)	$ 0