Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Nov. 02, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Secured Debt	$ 977,369,000		$ 786,585,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	6,232,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	42,609,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	89,506,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	222,413,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	126,293,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	1,071,694,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	5.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	10.00%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	29,500,000		54,100,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	75,000,000	50,000,000
Communities [Member]
Secured Debt	38,300,000
Corporate Headquarters [Member]
Secured Debt	18,800,000
Reference Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Customers Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	3.50%
Reference Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	0.63%
Spread [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Customers Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	3.00%
Spread [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	3.75%
Spread [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Customers Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	5.50%
Spread [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	4.00%
Minimum [Member] | Chase Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	1.625%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.50%
Maximum [Member] | Chase Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	3.00%
Secured Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	39,300,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	1,100,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	1,200,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	1,300,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	1,400,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	12,800,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities (in Dollars)	30,700,000		57,700,000
Chase Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings	58,800,000
Customers Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	37,500,000
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings	22,900,000
Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	50,000,000
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings	$ 25,800,000