XML 27 R57.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of interest capitalized	$ 2,413	$ 7,061
Income taxes	41,519	992
Non-cash operating activities:
Change in Real Estate Not Owned	4,710	0
Change in Real Estate Acquired Through Notes Payable	$ 1,043	$ 1,388

X

- Details

Name:	mth_CashFlowNoncashOperatingActivitiesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

This item represents the total net increase or decrease in real estate acquired through notes payable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_IncreaseDecreaseinRealEstateAcquiredThroughNotesPayable
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

This item represents the total net increase or decrease in consolidated inventory not owned related to land options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_IncreaseDecreaseinRealEstateNotOwned
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration