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Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2014 Lot | Dec. 31, 2013
--- | --- | ---
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 2 |  |
Purchase Price of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | $ 48 |  |
Option/Earnest money Deposits Cash Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 0 |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 11,462 | [1] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 566,230 | [1] |
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 54,666 | [1],[2] | 51,595
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 11,464 |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 566,278 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 54,666 |  |
Option Contracts Not Recorded On Balance Sheet Non Refundable Deposits Committed [Member] [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 4,287 | [3] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 354,573 | [3] |
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 37,100 | [3] |
Purchase Contracts Not Recorded On Balance Sheet Non Refundable Deposits Committed [Member] [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 2,122 | [3] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 79,566 | [3] |
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 13,702 | [3] |
Purchase Contracts not recorded on balance sheet-refundable deposits, committed [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 501 |  |
Purchase Price not recorded | 25,127 |  |
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 1,220 |  |
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 6,912 |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 459,314 |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 52,022 |  |
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 | 4,552 | [4] |
Purchase Price not recorded | 106,964 | [4] |
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | $ 2,644 | [4] |
[1] | (3)Except for our specific performance option contracts recorded on our balance sheet as Real estate not owned, none of our option agreements require us to purchase lots.
[2] | Amount is reflected in our consolidated balance sheet in the line item "Deposits on real estate under option or contract" as of March 31, 2014.
[3] | Deposits are generally non-refundable except if certain contractual conditions fail or certain contractual obligations are not performed by the selling party.
[4] | 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
Name: | mth_AggregateDepositAssets
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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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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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
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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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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