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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details)

v2.4.0.6

Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012 Lot	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of lots under option or contract
Number of lots of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned	5
Purchase Price of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned	$ 233	$ 0
Option/Earnest money Deposits Cash Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned	17
Number of lots not recorded	4,324
Purchase Price not recorded	181,371
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash	14,759	15,208
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded	4,329
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded	181,604
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded	14,776
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - non-refundable deposits, committed [Member]"
Summary of lots under option or contract
Number of lots not recorded	2,406
Purchase Price not recorded	132,773
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash	13,701
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - refundable deposits, committed [Member]
Summary of lots under option or contract
Number of lots not recorded	532
Purchase Price not recorded	17,871
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash	518
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) [Member]
Summary of lots under option or contract
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded	2,943
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded	150,877
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded	14,236
Option and Purchase contracts not recorded on balance sheet - refundable deposits, uncommitted [Member]
Summary of lots under option or contract
Number of lots not recorded	1,386
Purchase Price not recorded	30,727
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash	$ 540

- Definition

The total option and earnest money deposits or cash recorded and unrecorded.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_AggregateDepositAssets
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of non-refundable earnest money or cash deposits paid by the Company under the contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_DepositAssetsOnRecordedRealEstateNotOwned
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of recorded and unrecorded land option or purchase contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecordedAndUnrecorded
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	mth_LotsUnderOptionOrContractAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of lots guaranteed by the Company or a third party under option contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionContractsRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of lots where the Company holds an option contract or purchase agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContracts
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of lots with option or purchase contract not recorded.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The purchase price associated with option contracts not recorded on the balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_OptionsContractsNotRecordedNonRefundable
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The purchase price associated with option and purchase contracts that are recorded and not recorded on the balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mth_OptionsContractsRecordedAndNotRecordedPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	mth_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepositAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Discloses the total purchase price of land option agreements that were not recorded.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of land not owned but under a contract in which the entity has an option to purchase the land.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 67

-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 46R

-Paragraph 23

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant