XML 48 R36.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.0.814

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | $ 17,195 | $ 19,489
Sureties related to joint ventures [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding | 87 | 87
Estimated work remaining to complete | 87 | 87
Sureties related to owned projects and lots under contract [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding | 247,719 | 230,079
Estimated work remaining to complete | 92,914 | 93,667
Sureties [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding | 247,806 | 230,166
Estimated work remaining to complete | 93,001 | 93,754
LOCs in lieu of deposit for contracted lots [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | 0 | 1,200
LOCs for land development [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | 13,445 | 13,789
LOCs for general corporate operations [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | $ 3,750 | $ 4,500

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Portion Attributable to Work Remaining to Complete + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_LossContingencyPortionAttributabletoWorkRemainingtoComplete
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mth_SuretiesRelatedToJointVenturesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mth_SuretiesRelatedToOwnedProjectsAndLotsUnderContractMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_SuretyBondMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mth_LetterofCreditInLieuOfDepositForContractedLotsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mth_LetterOfCreditForLandDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mth_LetterOfCreditForGeneralCorporateOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |