Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Detail) - Consolidating Condensed Statements of 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	Oct. 31, 2009
Homebuilding									$ 1,446,618	$ 1,105,426	$ 1,339,869
Financial services									38,735	29,481	31,973
Total 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
Expenses	481,996	395,221	364,678	308,511	387,604	326,121	306,978	302,613	1,562,936	1,425,065	1,693,127
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(87,033)	6,230	27,039	24,698	10,563	(1,391)	(1,644)		(29,066)	7,528	25,047	41,300
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,077	852	1,495	(23)	(2,479)	(2,255)	(3,232)	(992)	5,401	(8,958)	956
(Loss) income 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)
State and federal income taxes	203	(36,493)	536	703	580	(4,645)	(1,015)	(421)	(35,051)	(5,501)	(297,870)
Net income (loss)	(84,410)	34,676	1,802	(18,265)	(98,348)	(50,930)	(72,667)	(64,142)	(66,197)	(286,087)	2,588
Financial services									23,648	21,371	23,074
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Expenses									3,030	5,704	8,638
Homebuilding [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Expenses									150,297	164,947	173,709
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Expenses									1,300,728	1,218,886	1,473,481
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Expenses									79,899	1,073	(11,332)
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Expenses									5,334	13,084	25,557
Homebuilding [Member]
Total revenues									1,446,591	1,105,530	1,339,735
Expenses									1,539,288	1,403,694	1,670,053
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures									4,763	(8,395)	683
(Loss) income before income taxes									47,005	(148,696)	(160,389)
Parent Company [Member]
Homebuilding									9	21	20
Total revenues									9	21	20
Expenses									3,002	6,011	9,143
(Loss) income before income taxes									(2,993)	(5,990)	(9,123)
State and federal income taxes									(17,495)	(20,084)	(309,922)
Equity in (loss) income from									(80,699)	(300,181)	(298,211)
Net income (loss)									(66,197)	(286,087)	2,588
Financial services									(28)	307	505
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Homebuilding									(270)	(245)	(350)
Intercompany charges									98,805	114,592	128,383
Total revenues									98,535	114,347	128,033
Expenses									150,297	164,947	173,709
Gain on extinguishment of debt									(29,066)	7,528	25,047
(Loss) income before income taxes									(80,828)	(43,072)	(20,629)
Net income (loss)									(80,828)	(43,072)	(20,629)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding									1,364,733	1,103,249	1,340,887
Financial services									8,082	5,523	6,353
Intercompany charges									(120,094)	(152,042)	(190,616)
Total revenues									1,252,721	956,730	1,156,624
Expenses									1,306,465	1,223,695	1,478,663
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures									561	(712)	(1,023)
(Loss) income before income taxes									(53,183)	(267,677)	(323,062)
State and federal income taxes									(17,580)	14,583	12,052
Net income (loss)									(35,603)	(282,260)	(335,114)
Financial services									5,737	4,809	5,182
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding									87,124	7,360	4,272
Financial services									30,653	23,958	25,620
Intercompany charges									(3,590)	(655)	(228)
Total revenues									114,187	30,663	29,664
Expenses									97,850	17,336	6,573
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures									4,840	(8,246)	1,979
(Loss) income before income taxes									21,177	5,081	25,070
State and federal income taxes									24
Net income (loss)									21,153	5,081	25,070
Financial services									17,951	16,263	17,905
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding									(4,978)	(4,959)	(4,960)
Intercompany charges									24,879	38,105	62,461
Total revenues									19,901	33,146	57,501
Expenses									5,322	13,076	25,039
(Loss) income before income taxes									14,579	20,070	32,462
Equity in (loss) income from									80,699	300,181	298,211
Net income (loss)									95,278	320,251	330,673
Financial services									$ (12)	$ (8)	$ (518)