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v2.4.1.9

Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 Lot | Dec. 31, 2013
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Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 70 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionContractsRecorded |  |
Purchase Price of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | $ 4,999 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecorded |  | $ 289 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecorded
Option/Earnest money Deposits Cash Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned | 700 mth_DepositAssetsOnRecordedRealEstateNotOwned |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 15,014 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded | [1] |
Purchase price not recorded | 928,128 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded | [1] |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 94,989 us-gaap_DepositAssets |  | 51,595 us-gaap_DepositAssets
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 15,084 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContracts |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 933,127 mth_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecordedAndUnrecorded |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 95,689 mth_AggregateDepositAssets |  |
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 | 7,256 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
Purchase price not recorded | 589,229 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 76,197 us-gaap_DepositAssets / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
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 | 2,665 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
Purchase price not recorded | 137,095 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 13,888 us-gaap_DepositAssets / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember |  |
Purchase Contracts not recorded on balance sheet Refundable Deposits Committed [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots not recorded | 631 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember |  |
Purchase price not recorded | 23,361 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | 1,349 us-gaap_DepositAssets / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember |  |
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) [Member] |  |  |
Summary of lots under option or contract |  |  |
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded | 10,622 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContracts / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_CommittedMember |  |
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded | 754,684 mth_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecordedAndUnrecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_CommittedMember |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded | 92,134 mth_AggregateDepositAssets / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_CommittedMember |  |
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 | 4,462 mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember |  |
Purchase price not recorded | 178,443 us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember |  |
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash | $ 3,555 us-gaap_DepositAssets / mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis = mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember |  |
[1] | Except for our specific performance contracts recorded on our balance sheet as Real estate not owned, none of our option agreements require us to purchase 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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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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- 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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Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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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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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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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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