Note 21 - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	$ 523,418	$ 390,898	$ 998,328	$ 756,087
Total expenses	525,553	392,535	992,173	750,044
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	2,676	1,935	4,921	3,768
Total expenses	1,823	1,556	3,447	3,129
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Intercompany charges	25,838	31,939	60,301	60,321
Total revenues	526,094	392,833	1,003,249	759,855
Total expenses	553,214	426,030	1,055,921	813,494
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	7		23	(14)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(27,113)	(33,197)	(52,649)	(53,653)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	4,152	(4,016)	28,599	2,966
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	15,995	13,332	31,548	27,203
Net (loss) income	(15,270)	(15,849)	(49,700)	(29,416)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	114,302	65,594	196,771	134,997
Total expenses	102,757	58,384	177,490	118,865
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	14,327	10,522	30,308	19,811
Total expenses	7,795	5,932	14,386	11,608
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Intercompany charges	729	66	806	64
Total revenues	128,629	76,182	227,079	154,808
Total expenses	111,281	64,316	192,682	130,537
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,353)	1,466	(2,849)	2,932
(Loss) income before income taxes	$ 15,995	13,332	31,548	27,203
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Net (loss) income	$ 15,995	13,332	31,548	27,203
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	33,396	38,387	69,207	76,215
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Intercompany charges	26,567	31,873	61,107	60,385
Total revenues	26,567	31,873	61,107	60,385
Total expenses	33,396	38,387	69,207	76,215
(Loss) income before income taxes	(6,829)	(6,514)	(8,100)	(15,830)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(8,410)		(15,328)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(13,562)	(13,558)	(27,072)	(26,364)
Net (loss) income	(11,981)	(20,072)	(19,844)	(42,194)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	(343)	3,082	1,597	6,793
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Total expenses		20		88
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Total expenses	(343)	3,102	1,597	6,881
(Loss) income before income taxes	343	(3,102)	(1,597)	(6,881)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(4,885)	(5,906)	(19,435)	(18,192)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(13,689)	(22,363)	(42,472)	(45,246)
Net (loss) income	(8,461)	(19,559)	(24,634)	(33,935)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Intercompany charges	(26,567)	(31,939)	(61,107)	(60,385)
Total revenues	(26,567)	(31,939)	(61,107)	(60,385)
Total expenses	$ (26,567)	(31,939)	$ (61,107)	(60,385)
(Loss) income before income taxes
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	$ 11,256	22,589	$ 37,996	44,407
Net (loss) income	11,256	22,589	37,996	44,407
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	637,720	456,492	1,195,099	891,084
Total revenues	637,792	456,531	1,195,191	891,159
Total expenses	661,363	492,388	1,240,467	951,917
(Loss) income before income taxes	1,283	1,077	9,647	14,608
Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	17,003	12,457	35,229	23,579
Total revenues	17,003	12,457	35,229	23,579
Total expenses	9,618	7,508	17,833	14,825
(Loss) income before income taxes	7,385	4,949	17,396	8,754
Total revenues	654,723	468,949	1,230,328	914,663
Total expenses	670,981	499,896	1,258,300	966,742
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,346)	1,466	(2,826)	2,918
(Loss) income before income taxes	(17,604)	(29,481)	(30,798)	(49,161)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(9,143)	(9,922)	(6,164)	(15,226)
Net (loss) income	$ (8,461)	$ (19,559)	$ (24,634)	$ (33,935)