Note 23 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
ASSETS:
Assets	$ 1,838,823	$ 1,759,130	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	2,301,336	2,191,929	[1]
Notes payable	1,688,987	1,557,706	[1]
Income taxes payable (receivable)	3,423	3,301	[1]
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(462,960)	(433,226)	[1]
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	447	427	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	1,838,823	1,759,130	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(16,528)
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	2,211	3,798
Homebuilding [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	191,410	277,800
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	176	491
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,264,666	1,020,435
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	494,285	437,767
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	314,593	312,042
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	49,928	64,329
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,754,141	1,610,277	[1]
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	47,665	51,438	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	546,600	506,385	[1]
Financial Services [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	12,182	14,570
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	11,902	14,789
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	72,500	134,283
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	50,424	109,748
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	84,682	148,853	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	62,326	124,537	[1]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(1,529,977)	(1,334,588)
Intercompany receivable	(1,317,517)	(1,108,395)
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(195,932)	(226,193)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Intercompany payable	(1,362,165)	(1,132,036)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(167,812)	(202,552)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,529,977)	(1,334,588)
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(94,617)	(62,298)
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(94,617)	(62,298)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Intercompany payable	327,508	326,262
Income taxes payable (receivable)	38,624	40,868
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(462,960)	(433,226)
Total liabilities and equity	(94,617)	(62,298)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,460,942	1,373,981
Intercompany receivable	1,291,281	1,093,906
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(21,749)	2,275
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	1,685,332	1,555,336
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(224,566)	(181,846)
Total liabilities and equity	1,460,942	1,373,981
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,589,146	1,321,221
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	312,298	286,216
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	3,423	2,276
Intercompany payable	1,034,657	805,774
Income taxes payable (receivable)	(35,201)	(37,567)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	80,080	98,182
Total liabilities and equity	1,589,146	1,321,221
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	413,329	460,814
Intercompany receivable	26,236	14,489
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	232	94
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	312,298	286,216
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	447	427
Total liabilities and equity	$ 413,329	$ 460,814

[1] Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2013.