Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment	512	488
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	11	5
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment	$ 46,200	$ 20,200
Number of Communities Tested for Impairment for Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount by Less Than 20%	4	3
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment for Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount by Less Than 20%	$ 17,300	$ 11,000
Percentage Undiscounted Cash Flow Exceeds Carrying Amount	20.00%
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 9,700	$ 900
Number of Communities Impaired	6	1
Preimpairment Value	$ 28,700	$ 5,700
Land Option Write-offs	$ 2,000	$ 1,300
Number of Walk Away Lots	1,256	1,700
Number of Communities Mothballed	29		31
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities	$ 76,300		$ 103,000
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges	296,200		334,500
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options	500		1,200
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate, Specific Performance Optiosn	500		1,200
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 242,409		$ 105,856	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	0.00%		19.00%
Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	$ 97,900		$ 95,900
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	90,100		87,900
Land Banking Arrangement [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	239,600		25,100
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 151,800		$ 16,800

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