Note 23 (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
ASSETS:
Assets	$ 1,664,126	$ 1,684,250	[1]
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	54,300	61,100
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	2,131,330	2,169,595	[1]
Notes payable	1,552,252	1,562,395	[1]
Income taxes payable (receivable)	2,748	6,882	[1]
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(467,627)	(485,575)	[1]
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	423	230	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	1,664,126	1,684,250	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets		6,155
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	2,404	1,671
Homebuilding [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	191,928	259,339
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	98	125
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,023,999	976,836
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	419,016	391,628
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	343,441	277,286
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	73,670	61,800
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,559,368	1,519,616
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	495,188	455,224
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,559,368	1,519,616	[1]
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	54,346	61,083	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	495,188	455,224	[1]
Financial Services [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		(179,583)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	0
Financial Services [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		(80,674)
Financial Services [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		13,790
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	0
Financial Services [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	9,880	23,669
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		246,467
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	10,076	23,070
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	94,878	140,965
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	71,066	122,024
Financial Services [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	104,758	164,634
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	81,142	145,094
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	104,758	164,634	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liabilities	81,142	145,094	[1]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(1,368,325)	(179,583)
Intercompany receivable	(1,189,469)	14,579
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(178,856)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	0
Intercompany Payable	1,189,469	(14,579)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(156,686)	(165,004)
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	0
Total liabilities and equity	(1,368,325)	(179,583)
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(95,575)	(74,519)
Intercompany receivable	0	(368,834)
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(95,575)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	0
Intercompany Payable	0	368,834
Income taxes payable (receivable)	34,609	40,551
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(467,627)	(485,575)
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	0
Total liabilities and equity	(95,575)	(74,519)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,360,303	273,129
Intercompany receivable	1,188,191	1,930,998
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(19,816)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	1,550,549	1,561,635
Intercompany Payable	(1,188,191)	(1,930,998)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(190,344)	642,367
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	0
Total liabilities and equity	1,360,303	273,129
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,328,126	1,246,972
Intercompany receivable	0	(1,589,502)
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	294,247
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	1,512	271
Intercompany Payable	0	1,589,502
Income taxes payable (receivable)	(31,861)	(33,669)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	52,783	(723,830)
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	0
Total liabilities and equity	1,328,126	1,246,972
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	439,597	418,251
Intercompany receivable	1,278	12,759
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	191	489
Intercompany Payable	(1,278)	(12,759)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	294,247	246,467
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	423	230
Total liabilities and equity	439,597	418,251
Consolidated Entities [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,664,126	1,684,250
Intercompany receivable	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	1,552,252	1,562,395
Intercompany Payable	0
Income taxes payable (receivable)	2,748	6,882
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(467,627)	(485,575)
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures	423	230
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,664,126	$ 1,684,250

[1] Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2012.