XML 66 R64.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 South Edge guarantee [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 South Edge guarantee [Member] | Jun. 06, 2011 South Edge guarantee [Member] | Oct. 26, 2011 South Edge [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Joint venture ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.53% |  |  |
Maximum pro rata exposure under the guarantee |  |  | $ 13,581,000 | $ 13,589,000 |  |  | $ 13,243,000 | $ 13,243,000 | $ 13,200,000 |
Number of co-ventures in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserved for Litigation and Asserted Claims |  |  | 8,991,000 | 10,157,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Warranty Reserve | 21,705,000 | 29,265,000 | 21,243,000 | 23,136,000 | 25,929,000 | 27,210,000 |  |  |  |
Number of lenders filing petition for involuntary bankruptcy |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount requested in demand for arbitration related to alleged breaches | 13,500,000 |  | 13,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional amount requested in demand for arbitration related to pro rata future infrastructure improvement costs | $ 9,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Details
Name: | mth_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The pro-rata share of alleged future infrastructure improvement costs to be incurred by the joint venture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_FutureInfrastructureImprovementCosts
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of co ventures in the joint venture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_NumberOfCoVenturesInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number for lenders who filed a petition seeking to place the venture into an involuntary bankruptcy. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_NumberOfLendersFilingPetitionForInvoluntaryBankruptcy
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The Company's percentage of interest in the joint venture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_PercentageOfInvestmentInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate standard product warranty liability. Does not include the balance for the extended product warranty liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (c)(1),(c)(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant