XML 100 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Inventory And Land Held for Sale (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] |  |  |
Homebuilding interest directly expensed due to active inventory exceeding debt levels |  |  | $ 1,500,000
Capitalized interest related to inventory impairments expensed to cost of revenues | 6,500,000 | 5,400,000 | 27,600,000
Number of Communities Assessed for Impairment | 35 |  |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 1,480,000 | 9,844,000 | 39,128,000
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | $ 2,278,000 | $ 10,002,000 | $ 5,594,000

X
- Definition Capitalized Interest Related To Land And Community Valuation Adjustments Expensed + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phm_CapitalizedInterestRelatedToLandAndCommunityValuationAdjustmentsExpensed
Namespace Prefix: | phm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Homebuilding Interest Costs Directly Expensed + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phm_HomebuildingInterestCostsDirectlyExpensed
Namespace Prefix: | phm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Charge against earnings in the period to reduce the current value of land held for sale to its fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phm_NetRealizableValueAdjustmentsLandHeldForSaleTotal
Namespace Prefix: | phm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of communities assessed for impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phm_NumberOfCommunitiesAssessedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix: | phm_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Charge against earnings in the period to write-off deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land option contracts the Company no longer plans to pursue. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phm_WriteOffOfDepositsAndPreAcquisitionCostsTotal
Namespace Prefix: | phm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration