Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock Based and Deferred Compensation (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Stock Based and Deferred Compensation (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of compensation expense and stock award activity    
Stock-based compensation expense $ 4,630us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 2,411us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Stock options exercised 143,440us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised 40,245us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
Restricted Stock [Member]    
Summary of compensation expense and stock award activity    
Restricted stock awards vested (includes performance-based awards) 326,070us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
300,170us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Time Based Restricted Stock [Member]    
Summary of compensation expense and stock award activity    
Non-vested shares granted 388,787us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= mth_TimeBasedRestrictedStockMember
355,283us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= mth_TimeBasedRestrictedStockMember
Performance Shares [Member]    
Summary of compensation expense and stock award activity    
Non-vested shares granted 66,187us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
52,083us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember