XML 35 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE NOT OWNED (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned [Abstract] |
Summary of Lots Under Option | The table below presents a summary of our lots under option at March 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands):
|  | Projected Number of Lots |  | Purchase Price |  | Option/ Earnest Money Deposits–Cash |
Purchase and option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |
Option contracts not recorded on balance sheet — non-refundable deposits, committed (1) |  | 5,655 |  |  | 543,886 |  |  | 73,559 |  |
Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet — non-refundable deposits, committed (1) |  | 2,896 |  |  | 176,528 |  |  | 7,615 |  |
Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet —refundable deposits, committed |  | 494 |  |  | 58,030 |  |  | 4,225 |  |
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) |  | 9,045 |  |  | 778,444 |  |  | 85,399 |  |
Total purchase and option contracts not recorded on balance sheet — refundable deposits, uncommitted (2) |  | 4,814 |  |  | 239,320 |  |  | 6,592 |  |
Total lots under contract or option |  | 13,859 |  |  | $ | 1,017,764 |  |  | $ | 91,991 |  |
Total purchase and option contracts not recorded on balance sheet (3) |  | 13,859 |  |  | $ | 1,017,764 |  |  | $ | 91,991 |  | (4)
(1) | Deposits are non-refundable except if certain contractual conditions are not performed by the selling party.
(2) | Deposits are refundable at our sole discretion. We have not completed our acquisition evaluation process and we have not internally committed to purchase these lots.
(3) | Except for our specific performance contracts recorded on our balance sheet as Real estate not owned, if any, none of our option agreements require us to purchase lots.
(4) | Amount is reflected in our consolidated balance sheet in the line item "Deposits on real estate under option or contract" as of March 31, 2016.

X
- Definition The tabular disclosure of the Company's real estate lots currently under option or contract with a third party including a detailed description of the number of lots, the purchase price and the amount of earnest money (if any)as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_LandUnderContractsandRealEstateNotOwnedTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Variable interest entities and consolidated real estate not owned. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_VariableInterestEntitiesAndConsolidatedRealEstateNotOwnedAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration