Note 11 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Detail) - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Revenues	$ 487,045	$ 387,011	$ 341,698	$ 269,599	$ 341,625	$ 285,618	$ 255,097	$ 252,567	$ 1,485,353		$ 1,134,907		$ 1,371,842
Income (loss) before income taxes	(84,207)	(1,817)	2,338	(17,562)	(97,768)	(55,575)	(73,682)	(64,563)	(101,248)		(291,588)		(295,282)
Interest expense									152,986		172,195		182,068
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									6,223		9,340		12,576
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									5,059		826		2,456
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,077	852	1,495	(23)	(2,479)	(2,255)	(3,232)	(992)	5,401		(8,958)		956
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Revenues									233,326		201,984		298,713
Income (loss) before income taxes									(4,683)		(99,276)		(92,605)
Interest expense									25,507		33,833		27,105
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									316		677		1,167
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									2,944		191		426
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									3,202		(4,474)		(29)
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues									273,080		199,716		282,052
Income (loss) before income taxes									17,262		(17,286)		(4,762)
Interest expense									9,988		10,180		16,572
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									370		437		474
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									55		19
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									155		(4,340)		(391)
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Revenues									106,719		70,567		93,358
Income (loss) before income taxes									253		(8,977)		(13,226)
Interest expense									2,994		2,441		3,807
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									517		1,825		1,609
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									218		66		290
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									598		672		390
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Revenues									128,684		79,453		93,493
Income (loss) before income taxes									(4,828)		(11,874)		(11,219)
Interest expense									5,310		4,036		5,570
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									47		132		356
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									30		34
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									1,503		676		322
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Revenues									518,931		425,152		393,639
Income (loss) before income taxes									42,178		29,316		23,192
Interest expense									15,880		14,552		13,927
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									217		292		340
Net additions to operating properties and equipment											28		19
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures											83		664
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Revenues									185,851		128,658		178,480
Income (loss) before income taxes									(3,177)		(40,599)		(61,769)
Interest expense									14,416		10,264		17,896
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									302		409		832
Net additions to operating properties and equipment											118
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									(57)		(1,575)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues									1,446,591		1,105,530		1,339,735
Income (loss) before income taxes									47,005		(148,696)		(160,389)
Interest expense									74,095		75,306		84,877
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									1,769		3,772		4,778
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									3,247		456		735
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures									4,763		(8,395)		683
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues									38,735		29,481		31,973
Income (loss) before income taxes									15,087		8,109		8,899
Interest expense									553	[1]	350	[1]	(291)	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									328		391		447
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									21		74
Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenues									27		(104)		134
Income (loss) before income taxes									(163,340)		(151,001)		(143,792)
Interest expense									78,338		96,539		97,482
Depreciation, amortization and impairment									4,126		5,177		7,351
Net additions to operating properties and equipment									$ 1,791		$ 296		$ 1,721

[1] Financial services interest income and interest expenses are included in the Financial services lines on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the respective revenues and expenses sections.