Note 21 - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	$ 102,903	$ 230,358
Liability	73	87
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Assets	1,551,643	1,717,871
Income taxes receivable	(73,884)	(89,212)
Intercompany receivable	1,522,624	1,575,712
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures		1,013
Notes payable	1,760,690	1,933,119
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries	26,059
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(235,179)	(215,335)
Total liabilities and equity	1,551,643	1,717,871
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	1,474,850	1,553,811
Liability	640,813	588,854
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Assets	14,937	15,680
Liability	14,580	15,677
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Assets	2,131,942	2,203,816
Income taxes receivable	227,575	251,293
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	414,580	383,032
Notes payable	4,030	2,132
Intercompany payable	1,375,955	1,453,311
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	96,564	143,842
Total liabilities and equity	2,131,942	2,203,816
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	486,093	367,869
Liability	125,561	65,947
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Assets	145,775	144,301
Liability	122,126	121,106
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Assets	660,101	570,472
Income taxes receivable	25	22
Intercompany receivable	28,208	58,280
Notes payable	253	384
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	412,161	383,035
Total liabilities and equity	660,101	570,472
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Liability	2,823	3,076
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Assets	140,353	128,176
Income taxes receivable	140,353	128,176
Intercompany payable	174,877	180,681
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries	114,975	72,503
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(152,322)	(128,084)
Total liabilities and equity	140,353	128,176
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Assets	(1,965,412)	(2,018,037)
Intercompany receivable	(1,550,832)	(1,633,992)
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	(414,580)	(384,045)
Intercompany payable	(1,550,832)	(1,633,992)
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries	(141,034)	(72,503)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(273,546)	(311,542)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,965,412)	(2,018,037)
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	2,063,846	2,152,038	[1]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	70,061	61,209
Liability	769,270	657,964	[1]
Financial Services [Member]
Assets	160,712	159,981	[1]
Liability	136,706	136,783	[1]
Assets	2,518,627	2,602,298	[1]
Income taxes receivable	294,069	290,279
Liability	2,670,949	2,730,382	[1]
Notes payable	1,764,973	1,935,635	[1]
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(152,322)	(128,084)	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,518,627	$ 2,602,298	[1]

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