Business Acquisition (Summary of Pro Forma Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Earnings per share:
Acquisition and integration costs related to CalAtlantic	$ 11,992	$ 0	$ 140,062	$ 0
CalAtlantic Group, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues from home sales	5,223,787	4,491,338	14,404,000	12,599,040
Net earnings	$ 453,211	$ 345,760	$ 897,178	$ 822,787
Earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	$ 1.37	$ 1.06	$ 2.75	$ 2.52
Diluted (in shares)	$ 1.37	$ 1.05	$ 2.74	$ 2.50
Acquisition and integration costs related to CalAtlantic	$ 12,000		$ 140,100
Purchase accounting adjustments	$ 84,200		$ 376,000
WCI Communities, Inc.
Earnings per share:
Acquisition and integration costs related to CalAtlantic		$ 6,900		$ 25,900