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

Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Region	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Region	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]
Number of remaining actively selling communities	179		179
Impairment Charges	$ 584,000	$ 417,000	$ 776,000	$ 1,600,000
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Textual) [Abstract]
Capitalized interest related to joint venture investments	511,000		511,000		539,000
Central [Member] \| Mothballed [Member]
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]
Carrying value of the community	3,300,000		3,300,000
Number of mothball communities	2		2
West [Member] \| Mothballed [Member]
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]
Carrying value of the community	29,600,000		29,600,000
Number of mothball communities	6		6
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member]
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]
Value of remaining assets related to properties not being developed	$ 11,800,000		$ 11,800,000