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Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2011
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | $ 863 | $ 590 | $ 1,156 | $ 1,254
West [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 785 | 57 | 911 | 257
Central [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 71 | 434 | 226 | 769
East [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 7 | 99 | 19 | 228
Terminated option/purchase contracts and related pre-acquisition costs [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 2 | 83 | 2
Terminated option/purchase contracts and related pre-acquisition costs [Member] | West [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Terminated option/purchase contracts and related pre-acquisition costs [Member] | Central [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 2 | 83 | 2
Terminated option/purchase contracts and related pre-acquisition costs [Member] | East [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Real estate inventory impairments [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 194 | 588 | 404 | 1,252
Real estate inventory impairments [Member] | West [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 116 | 57 | 242 | 257
Real estate inventory impairments [Member] | Central [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 71 | 432 | 143 | 767
Real estate inventory impairments [Member] | East [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 7 | 99 | 19 | 228
Impairments of land held for sale [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 669 | 0 | 669 | 0
Impairments of land held for sale [Member] | West [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 669 | 0 | 669 | 0
Impairments of land held for sale [Member] | Central [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Impairments of land held for sale [Member] | East [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Individual home impairments [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 194 | 277 | 404 | 941
Individual home impairments [Member] | West [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 116 | 57 | 242 | 257
Individual home impairments [Member] | Central [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | 71 | 121 | 143 | 456
Individual home impairments [Member] | East [Member] |  |  |  |
Real-estate and joint venture impairment charges |  |  |  |
Impairment of real estate | $ 7 | $ 99 | $ 19 | $ 228

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

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- Definition The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property, joint venture investment balances and other real estate related capitalized costs to fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_ImpairmentOfRealEstateAndJointVentureAndOtherRealEstateRelatedImpairments
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration