Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 2)

v2.4.1.9
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 2) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of capitalized interest      
Capitalized interest, beginning of period $ 54,060us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts $ 32,992us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts  
Interest incurred 15,282us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred 14,256us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred  
Interest expensed (3,154)us-gaap_InterestExpense (2,713)us-gaap_InterestExpense  
Interest amortized to cost of home and land closings (9,345)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales (5,834)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales  
Capitalized interest, end of period 56,843us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts [1] 38,701us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts [1]  
Equity Method Land Ventures [Member]      
Summary of capitalized interest      
Capitalized interest, beginning of period     490us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember
Capitalized interest, end of period $ 490us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember 		  $ 490us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember
[1] Approximately $490,000 of the capitalized interest is related to our joint venture investments and is a component of “Investments in unconsolidated entities” in our consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.