Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures - (Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Rialto
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impaired loans receivable, total gains (losses)	$ (4,300)	$ (4,500)	$ (11,100)	$ (7,300)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, total gains (losses)	(6,669)	(3,127)	(15,016)	(7,499)
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, total gains (losses)	(23)	(7)	(826)	(1,420)
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	52,460	76,138	72,375	248,250
Impaired loans receivable, fair value	48,130	71,641	61,324	240,944
Impaired loans receivable, total gains (losses)	(4,330)	(4,497)	(11,051)	(7,306)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, carrying value	8,283	4,767	34,017	18,383
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, fair value	7,786	4,481	31,976	17,280
REO- held-for-sale: Upon acquisition/transfer, total gains (losses)	(497)	(286)	(2,041)	(1,103)
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, carrying value	28,850	9,146	63,172	26,008
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, fair value	22,678	6,305	50,197	19,612
REO- held-for-sale: Upon management periodic valuations, total gains (losses)	(6,172)	(2,841)	(12,975)	(6,396)
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, carrying value	937	1,357	8,640	14,683
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, fair value	1,013	1,367	12,316	15,710
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, total gains (losses)	76	10	3,676	1,027
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, carrying value	60	14	4,976	2,703
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, fair value	37	7	4,150	1,283
REO - held-and-used, net: Upon management periodic valuation, total gains (losses)	(23)	(7)	(826)	(1,420)
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	5,754	0	52,093
Finished homes and construction in progress, fair value	0	4,607	0	41,343
Finished homes and construction in progress, total gains (losses)	0	(1,147)	0	(10,750)
Land and land under development, carrying value	23,736	16,482	29,418	16,482
Land and land under development, fair value	18,000	11,811	22,925	11,811
Land and land under development, total gains (losses)	$ (5,736)	$ (4,671)	$ (6,493)	$ 4,671