Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Sale of homes	$ 462,376	$ 371,481	$ 1,206,233	$ 936,305
Land sales and other revenues	3,103	4,743	18,114	36,014
Total homebuilding	465,479	376,224	1,224,347	972,319
Financial services	12,878	10,787	35,219	25,990
Total revenues	478,357	387,011	1,259,566	998,309
Expenses:
Cost of sales, excluding interest	370,464	305,178	992,362	794,168
Cost of sales interest	13,757	14,298	35,311	40,091
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs	623	689	3,479	7,230
Total cost of sales	384,844	320,165	1,031,152	841,489
Selling, general and administrative	42,331	36,230	116,904	104,609
Total homebuilding expenses	427,175	356,395	1,148,056	946,098
Financial services	6,640	6,111	21,205	16,651
Corporate general and administrative	14,056	11,913	40,284	36,961
Other interest	21,949	24,590	68,581	72,641
Other operations	1,839	(3,099)	(75)	3,289
Total expenses	471,659	395,910	1,278,051	1,075,640
Gain on extinguishment of debt		6,230		57,966
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,690	852	6,806	2,324
Income (loss) before income taxes	10,388	(1,817)	(11,679)	(17,041)
State and federal income tax provision (benefit):
Tax provision (benefit)	1,922	(36,493)	(10,155)	(35,254)
Net income (loss)	8,466	34,676	(1,524)	18,213
Basic:
Income (loss) per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.25	$ (0.01)	$ 0.15
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)	146,056	138,472	144,840	121,357
Assuming dilution:
Income (loss) per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.25	$ (0.01)	$ 0.15
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)	162,823	138,552	144,840	121,380
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
State and federal income tax provision (benefit):
Tax provision (benefit)	1,922	(36,563)	(277)	(35,461)
Federal Jurisdiction [Member]
State and federal income tax provision (benefit):
Tax provision (benefit)		$ 70	$ (9,878)	$ 207