Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

v2.4.1.9
Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Real Estate Not Owned (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Lot
Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of lots under option or contract    
Number of lots of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned 70mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionContractsRecorded  
Purchase Price of Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned $ 4,999us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecorded $ 289us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecorded
Option/Earnest money Deposits Cash Option contracts recorded on balance sheet as Real estate not owned 700mth_DepositAssetsOnRecordedRealEstateNotOwned  
Number of lots not recorded 15,014mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded [1]  
Purchase price not recorded 928,128us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded [1]  
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash 94,989us-gaap_DepositAssets 51,595us-gaap_DepositAssets
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded 15,084mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContracts  
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded 933,127mth_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecordedAndUnrecorded  
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded 95,689mth_AggregateDepositAssets  
Option Contracts Not Recorded On Balance Sheet Non Refundable Deposits Committed [Member] [Member]    
Summary of lots under option or contract    
Number of lots not recorded 7,256mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Purchase price not recorded 589,229us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash 76,197us-gaap_DepositAssets
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Purchase Contracts Not Recorded On Balance Sheet Non Refundable Deposits Committed [Member] [Member]    
Summary of lots under option or contract    
Number of lots not recorded 2,665mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Purchase price not recorded 137,095us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash 13,888us-gaap_DepositAssets
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetNonRefundableDepositsCommittedMemberMember
 
Purchase Contracts not recorded on balance sheet Refundable Deposits Committed [Member]    
Summary of lots under option or contract    
Number of lots not recorded 631mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember
 
Purchase price not recorded 23,361us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember
 
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash 1,349us-gaap_DepositAssets
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_PurchaseContractsnotrecordedasrefundabledepositscommittedMember
 
Total committed (on and off balance sheet) [Member]    
Summary of lots under option or contract    
Number of lots recorded and unrecorded 10,622mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContracts
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_CommittedMember
 
Purchase Price recorded and unrecorded 754,684mth_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsRecordedAndUnrecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_CommittedMember
 
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash recorded and unrecorded 92,134mth_AggregateDepositAssets
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_CommittedMember
 
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 4,462mth_NumberOfLotsUnderOptionOrContractsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember
 
Purchase price not recorded 178,443us-gaap_LandUnderPurchaseOptionsNotRecorded
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember
 
Option/Earnest Money Deposits Cash $ 3,555us-gaap_DepositAssets
/ mth_OptionContractsAndRealEstateNotOwnedAxis
= mth_OptionAndPurchaseContractsNotRecordedOnBalanceSheetRefundableDepositsUncommittedMember
 
[1] Except for our specific performance contracts recorded on our balance sheet as Real estate not owned, none of our option agreements require us to purchase lots.