Note 17 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) - Financial Information Relating to Segment Financial Position - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Assets:
Total Assets		$ 2,552,740	$ 2,602,298	[1]
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		2,071,894	2,152,038	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		288,384	321,983
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		345,217	342,159
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		176,399	197,899
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		255,971	223,206
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		469,940	465,740
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		286,351	259,943
Financial Services [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		193,458	159,981	[1]
Corporate and Other [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets	[2]	537,020	631,387
Excluding Corporate And Unallocated [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Total Assets		$ 1,822,262	$ 1,810,930

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

[2] Includes $287.4 million and $290.3 million of income taxes receivable - including deferred tax assets as of January 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015, respectively.