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Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 3) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, beginning of year | $ 32,992,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts | [1] | $ 21,600,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts |  | $ 14,810,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
Interest incurred | 58,374,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred |  | 51,152,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred |  | 46,135,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred
Interest expensed | (5,163,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense |  | (15,092,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense |  | (24,244,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest amortized to cost of home and land closings | (32,143,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales |  | (24,668,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales |  | (15,101,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales
Capitalized interest, end of year (1) | 54,060,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts | [1] | 32,992,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts | [1] | 21,600,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
Equity Method Land Ventures [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, end of year (1) | $ 490,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember |  | $ 511,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember |  | $ 539,000 us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember
[1] | Approximately $490,000, $511,000 and $539,000 of the capitalized interest is related to our joint venture investments and is a component of “Investments in unconsolidated entities” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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- Definition Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 9 -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of interest costs that were capitalized to properties under development during the land development and construction period of a project, and which are included in inventory. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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- Definition The amount of interest costs that had been capitalized to inventory which were charged to cost of sales during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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- Definition The amount of interest capitalized to an operative builder's inventory during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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