XML 12 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.2.0.727

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details Textual) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Community Region State | Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Community Region State | Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Entity operations in number of regions | Region | 3 |  | 3 |  |
Number of states in regions | State | 9 |  | 9 |  |
Number of communities in which homes are sold | Community | 240 |  | 240 |  |
Amounts in transit from title companies for home closings | $ 57,500 |  | $ 57,500 |  | $ 59,200
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 92,085 |  | 92,085 |  | $ 94,989
Adjustments to pre-existing reserves | $ 750 | $ 500 | 750 | $ 500 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Base price per house for sale range |  |  | $ 122 |  |
Community life cycle range (in years) |  |  | 3 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Base price per house for sale range |  |  | $ 1,315 |  |
Community life cycle range (in years) |  |  | 5 years |  |
Non-Structural Items [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 1 year |  |
Non-Structural Items [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 2 years |  |
Structural [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 10 years |  |

X
- Definition Amounts in transit from title companies for home closings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_AmountsInTransitFromTitleCompaniesForHomeClosings
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The price range as of the balance sheet date relating to the houses the Company has for sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_BasePricePerHouseForSaleRange
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The range in number of years it takes to develop and sell a community starting with the acquisition of the land. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_CommunityLifeCycleRange
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of regions in the country where the Company has operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_EntityOperationsInNumberOfRegions
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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
Name: | mth_NumberofCommunitiesinWhichHomesareSold
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Organization and presentation line items. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_OrganizationAndPresentationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Warranty period following home closings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_WarrantyPeriodFollowingHomeClosings
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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 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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 17 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DepositAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the aggregate Increase or Decrease in the liability during the reporting period for accruals related to preexisting standard product warranties (including adjustments related to changes in estimates). Does not include any Increase or Decrease in the liability for accruals related to extended product warranties. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph ((c)(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mth_NonStructuralItemsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mth_StructuralMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |