Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (16,173)	$ (14,376)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	865	849
Compensation from stock options and awards	1,545	3,500
Amortization of bond discounts and deferred financing costs	2,971	2,863
Gain on sale and retirement of property and assets	(81)	(168)
Loss (income) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,480	(1,452)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures		3,040
Inventory impairment and land option write-offs	11,681	2,230
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	2,616	(5,945)
(Increase) decrease in assets:
Origination of mortgage loans	(275,617)	(200,713)
Sale of mortgage loans	240,976	202,283
Restricted cash, receivables, prepaids, deposits and other assets	(2,877)	(6,495)
Inventories	(19,089)	(139,896)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
State income tax payable	275	275
Customers’ deposits	(1,785)	(1,068)
Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities	(11,868)	(40,544)
Net cash used in operating activities	(65,081)	(195,617)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and assets	93	168
Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions	(1,253)	(879)
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(11,497)	(11,735)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,132	627
Net cash used in investing activities	(10,554)	(11,432)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgages and notes	57,592	30,908
Payments related to mortgages and notes	(72,985)	(34,227)
Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs	9,339
Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs	(7,110)	(5,802)
Proceeds from land bank financing programs	138,314	3,131
Payments related to land bank financing programs	(3,240)	(10,334)
Proceeds from senior notes		247,938
Payments for senior notes and senior amortizing notes	(175,040)	(2,062)
Net proceeds (payments) related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit	31,481	(8,153)
Deferred financing cost from land bank financing program and note issuances	(3,883)	(5,011)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(25,532)	218,450
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(101,167)	11,401
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period	253,745	261,898
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period	152,578	273,299
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest (see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)	33,000	26,489
Income taxes	88	366
Related to Mortgage Company [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Decrease (Increase) in Restricted Cash	(81)	387
Related to Letters of Credit [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Decrease (Increase) in Restricted Cash	$ 52
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from senior notes		$ 250,000