Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Acquisitions and Goodwill Details Textual (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Acquisitions and Goodwill Details Textual (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Aug. 01, 2013
Aug. 01, 2014
Goodwill, Acquired During Period $ 22,715,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod $ 10,247,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod      
Cash paid for acquisitions 130,677,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired 18,624,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired 0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired    
Goodwill 32,962,000us-gaap_Goodwill 10,247,000us-gaap_Goodwill 0us-gaap_Goodwill    
East [Member]          
Goodwill 32,962,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= mth_EastMember
10,247,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= mth_EastMember
0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= mth_EastMember
   
Nashville Acquisition [Member]          
Cash paid for acquisitions   18,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_NashvilleAcquisitionMember
     
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory       8,400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_NashvilleAcquisitionMember
 
Nashville Acquisition [Member] | East [Member]          
Goodwill, Acquired During Period   10,247,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_NashvilleAcquisitionMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= mth_EastMember
     
Legendary Communities Acquisition [Member]          
Cash paid for acquisitions 130,677,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_LegendaryCommunitiesAcquisitionMember
       
Business Acquisition Estimated Earn Out         10,000,000mth_BusinessAcquisitionEstimatedEarnOut
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_LegendaryCommunitiesAcquisitionMember
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory         108,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_LegendaryCommunitiesAcquisitionMember
Legendary Communities Acquisition [Member] | East [Member]          
Goodwill, Acquired During Period $ 22,715,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mth_LegendaryCommunitiesAcquisitionMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= mth_EastMember