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Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2013 Communities | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2013 Communities | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of remaining actively selling communities | 165 |  | 165 |  |
Impairment Charges | $ 146,000 | $ 863,000 | $ 192,000 | $ 1,200,000 |
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest related to joint venture investments | 532,000 |  | 532,000 |  | 539,000
Central [Member] | Mothballed [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of the community | 3,300,000 |  | 3,300,000 |  |
Number of mothball communities | 2 |  | 2 |  |
West [Member] | Mothballed [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of the community | 36,000,000 |  | 36,000,000 |  |
Number of mothball communities | 8 |  | 8 |  |
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of remaining actively selling communities | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Number of lots remaining to sell | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Value of remaining lots and associated home inventory | 200,000 |  | 200,000 |  |
Value of remaining assets related to properties not being developed | $ 12,200,000 |  | $ 12,200,000 |  |

X
- Definition Carrying value of the community. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Impairment charges related to communities. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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X
- Definition The number of communities in which the Company is actively selling homes as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
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X
- Definition Number of existing communities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of lots remaining to sell. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Definition Real estate inventory capitalized interest costs related to joint venture investments. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition Value of remaining lots and associated home inventory for actively selling communities. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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X
- Definition Value of remaining lots and associated home inventory. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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