Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 3)

v2.4.1.9
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details 3) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of capitalized interest      
Capitalized interest, beginning of year $ 32,992,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts [1] $ 21,600,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts $ 14,810,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
Interest incurred 58,374,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred 51,152,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred 46,135,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsIncurred
Interest expensed (5,163,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (15,092,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (24,244,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest amortized to cost of home and land closings (32,143,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales (24,668,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales (15,101,000)us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsCostOfSales
Capitalized interest, end of year (1) 54,060,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts [1] 32,992,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts [1] 21,600,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
Equity Method Land Ventures [Member]      
Summary of capitalized interest      
Capitalized interest, end of year (1) $ 490,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember 		$ 511,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember 		$ 539,000us-gaap_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= mth_EquityMethodLandVenturesMember
[1] Approximately $490,000, $511,000 and $539,000 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 December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.