XML 51 R40.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

REAL ESTATE AND CAPITALIZED INTEREST - Schedule of Real Estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Real Estate Properties |  |  |
Homes under contract under construction | [1] | $ 677,456 | $ 508,927
Unsold homes completed and under construction | [1] | 484,701 | 431,725
Model homes | [1] | 140,326 | 147,406
Finished home sites and home sites under development | [2] | 1,459,786 | 1,334,005
Real estate |  | $ 2,762,269 | $ 2,422,063
[1] | Includes the allocated land and land development costs associated with each lot for these homes.
[2] | Includes raw land, land held for development and land held for sale. Land held for development primarily reflects land and land development costs related to land where development activity is not currently underway but is expected to begin in the future. For these parcels, we may have chosen not to currently develop certain land holdings as they typically represent a portion or phases of a larger land parcel that we plan to build out over several years. We do not capitalize interest for inactive assets, and all ongoing costs of land ownership (i.e. property taxes, homeowner association dues, etc.) are expensed as incurred.

X
- Definition Inventory, Model Homes + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_InventoryModelHomes
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Inventory, Sold Homes Under Construction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_InventorySoldHomesUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Inventory, Unsold Homes, Completed And Under Construction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_InventoryUnsoldHomesCompletedAndUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties. + 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 210.5-02.6(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryOperativeBuilders
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryRealEstateAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities.. + 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 210.5-02.6(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryRealEstateLandAndLandDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant