Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures - (Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis) (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Rialto
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impaired loans receivable, carrying value	$ 0	$ 52,460	$ 31,554	$ 72,375
Impaired loans receivable, fair value	0	48,130	18,885	61,324
Impaired loans receivable, total gains (losses)	0	(4,330)	(12,669)	(11,051)
FDIC Portfolios loans held-for-sale, carrying value	20,863	0	26,081	0
FDIC Portfolios loans held-for-sale, fair value	19,237	0	19,237	0
FDIC Portfolios loans held-for-sale, Total gains (losses)	(1,626)	0	(6,844)	0
REO, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, carrying value	1,200	9,220	31,503	42,657
REO, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, fair value	1,376	8,799	30,066	44,292
REO, net: Upon acquisition/transfer, total gains (losses)	176	(421)	(1,437)	1,635
REO, net: Upon management periodic valuation, carrying value	35,507	28,910	118,497	68,148
REO, net: Upon management periodic valuation, fair value	22,765	22,715	79,601	54,347
REO, net: Upon management periodic valuation, total gains (losses)	(12,742)	(6,195)	(38,896)	(13,801)
Lennar Homebuilding
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recuring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Land and land under development, carrying value	0	23,736	6,771	29,418
Land and land under development, fair value	0	18,000	3,094	22,925
Land and land under development, total gains (losses)	$ 0	$ (5,736)	(3,677)	(6,493)
Inventory, Homes under Construction and Finished Homes, Fair Value Measurement Adjustments, Before Impairment			6,659	0
Inventory, Homes under Construction and Finished Homes, Fair Value Measurement Adjustments, After Impairment			2,745	0
Inventory Write-Down, Homes Under Construction and Finished Homes			$ (3,914)	$ 0