Note 18 - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Homebuilding Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 39,129		$ 39,129		$ 27,856
Inventories	504,730		504,730		314,814
Other assets	24,832		24,832		11,225
Total assets	568,691		568,691		353,895
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	50,686		50,686		29,994
Notes payable	209,868		209,868		112,554
Total liabilities	260,554		260,554		142,548
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	80,747		80,747		57,336
Others	227,390		227,390		154,011
Total equity	308,137		308,137		211,347
Total liabilities and equity	$ 568,691		$ 568,691		$ 353,895
Debt to capitalization ratio	41.00%		41.00%		35.00%
Revenues	$ 31,145	$ 27,459	$ 77,171	$ 91,300
Cost of sales and expenses	(37,245)	(29,705)	(92,904)	(53,821)
Joint venture net (loss) income	(6,100)	(2,246)	(15,733)	37,479
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,418)	(488)	(5,267)	728
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Land Development Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	860		860		$ 1,755
Inventories	12,299		12,299		11,767
Other assets
Total assets	13,159		13,159		13,522
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,222		1,222		669
Notes payable	2,864		2,864		3,774
Total liabilities	4,086		4,086		4,443
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	3,309		3,309		3,122
Others	5,764		5,764		5,957
Total equity	9,073		9,073		9,079
Total liabilities and equity	$ 13,159		$ 13,159		$ 13,522
Debt to capitalization ratio	24.00%		24.00%		29.00%
Revenues	$ 1,219	1,394	$ 2,836	4,009
Cost of sales and expenses	(1,143)	(1,296)	(2,462)	(4,103)
Joint venture net (loss) income	76	98	374	(94)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	38	49	187	(47)
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	39,989		39,989		$ 29,611
Inventories	517,029		517,029		326,581
Other assets	24,832		24,832		11,225
Total assets	581,850		581,850		367,417
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	51,908		51,908		30,663
Notes payable	212,732		212,732		116,328
Total liabilities	264,640		264,640		146,991
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	84,056		84,056		60,458
Others	233,154		233,154		159,968
Total equity	317,210		317,210		220,426
Total liabilities and equity	$ 581,850		$ 581,850		$ 367,417
Debt to capitalization ratio	40.00%		40.00%		35.00%
Revenues	$ 32,364	28,853	$ 80,007	95,309
Cost of sales and expenses	(38,388)	(31,001)	(95,366)	(57,924)
Joint venture net (loss) income	(6,024)	(2,148)	(15,359)	37,385
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	$ (2,380)	(439)	$ (5,080)	681
Debt to capitalization ratio	40.00%		40.00%
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	$ (2,401)	$ (448)	$ (5,227)	$ 2,470