XML 52 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

REAL ESTATE AND CAPITALIZED INTEREST - Summary of Capitalized Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, beginning of period |  | $ 64,682 | $ 58,870 | $ 61,202 | $ 54,060
Interest incurred |  | 17,372 | 17,857 | 52,644 | 49,665
Interest expensed |  | (167) | (4,187) | (5,127) | (11,962)
Interest amortized to cost of home and land closings |  | (14,256) | (11,144) | (41,088) | (30,367)
Capitalized interest, end of period | [1] | 67,631 | $ 61,396 | 67,631 | $ 61,396
Equity-method land ventures [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, beginning of period |  |  |  | 445 |
Capitalized interest, end of period |  | $ 383 |  | $ 383 |
[1] | Approximately $383,000 and $445,000 of the capitalized interest is related to our joint venture investments and is a component of Investments in unconsolidated entities on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

X
- 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 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399 Reference 3: 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of interest cost charged to cost of sales that had been previously capitalized to 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 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |