Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 152,578	$ 253,745
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	26,900	26,500
Inventories:
Total assets	2,552,740	2,602,298	[1]
Homebuilding:
Total liabilities	2,695,880	2,730,382	[1]
Stockholders’ equity deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at January 31, 2016 and at October 31, 2015	135,299	135,299	[1]
Paid in capital – common stock	704,862	703,751	[1]
Accumulated deficit	(869,537)	(853,364)	[1]
Treasury stock – at cost	(115,360)	(115,360)	[1]
Total stockholders’ equity deficit	(143,140)	(128,084)	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	2,552,740	2,602,298	[1]
Notes payable:
Revolving credit agreement	47,000	47,000	[1]
Accrued interest	29,172	40,388	[1]
Total notes payable	1,750,699	1,935,635	[1]
Financial services:
Income taxes receivable – including net deferred tax benefits	287,388	290,279	[1]
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	147,124	245,398	[1]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	6,865	7,299	[1]
Inventories:
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	1,127,416	1,307,850	[1]
Land and land options held for future development or sale	186,503	214,503	[1]
Consolidated inventory not owned	338,067	122,225	[1]
Total inventories	1,651,986	1,644,578	[1]
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	69,094	61,209	[1]
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	69,629	70,349	[1]
Property, plant and equipment, net	46,010	45,534	[1]
Prepaid expenses and other assets	81,186	77,671	[1]
Total assets	2,071,894	2,152,038	[1]
Homebuilding:
Liabilities from inventory not owned	242,409	105,856	[1]
Total liabilities	777,130	657,964	[1]
Financial services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	348,400	348,516	[1]
Customers’ deposits	42,433	44,218	[1]
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	5,454	8,347	[1]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	20,072	19,223	[1]
Mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	164,961	130,320	[1]
Other assets	2,971	2,091	[1]
Inventories:
Total assets	193,458	159,981	[1]
Homebuilding:
Total liabilities	168,051	136,783	[1]
Financial services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	27,695	27,908	[1]
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	140,356	108,875	[1]
Common Class A [Member]
Stockholders’ equity deficit:
Common stock	1,436	1,433	[1]
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders’ equity deficit:
Common stock	160	157	[1]
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	981,716	981,346	[1]
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	607,575	780,319	[1]
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	10,516	12,811	[1]
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	74,720	73,771	[1]
Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Secured debt	128,668	143,863	[1]
Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Operating Properties [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Secured debt	$ 15,220	$ 15,511	[1]

[1] Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2015.