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Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2012 Lot | Dec. 31, 2011
--- | --- | ---
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 0 |  |
Purchase Price of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | $ 0 |  |
Option/Earnest money Deposits Cash Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 0 |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 4,835 |  |
Purchase Price not recorded | 183,900 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 14,351 | [1] | 15,208
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 4,835 |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 183,900 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 14,351 |  |
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - non-refundable deposits, committed [Member]" |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 2,471 | [2] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 115,902 | [2] |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 9,442 | [2] |
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - refundable deposits, committed [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 850 |  |
Purchase Price not recorded | 21,870 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 2,934 |  |
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 3,321 |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 137,772 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 12,376 |  |
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - refundable deposits, uncommitted [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 1,514 | [3] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 46,128 | [3] |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | $ 1,975 | [3] |
[1] | Amount is reflected in our consolidated balance sheet in the line item “Deposits on real estate under option or contract” as of December 31, 2012.
[2] | Deposits are non-refundable except if certain contractual conditions are not performed by the selling party.
[3] | Deposits are refundable at our sole discretion. We have not completed our acquisition evaluation process and we have not internally committed to purchase these lots.

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- Definition The total option and earnest money deposits or cash recorded and unrecorded. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of non-refundable earnest money or cash deposits paid by the Company under the contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of recorded and unrecorded land option or purchase contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The number of lots guaranteed by the Company or a third party under option contract. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of lots where the Company holds an option contract or purchase agreement + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of lots with option or purchase contract not recorded. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 17 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Discloses the total purchase price of land option agreements that were not recorded. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of land not owned but under a contract in which the entity has an option to purchase the land. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 67 -Paragraph 4 -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 FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 23 -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
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