Meritage Homes Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Operating and Reporting Segments (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land closing revenue	$ 8,072	$ 11,252	$ 16,285	$ 16,622
Homebuilding [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land closing revenue	8,072	11,252	16,285	16,622
Homebuilding, West Region [Member] \| Reportable Subsegments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land closing revenue	0	10,105	0	11,155
Homebuilding, Central Region [Member] \| Reportable Subsegments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land closing revenue	7,677	1,147	14,194	3,244
Homebuilding, East Region [Member] \| Reportable Subsegments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land closing revenue	$ 395	$ 0	$ 2,091	$ 2,223