Note 21 - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	$ 595,124	$ 446,581	$ 1,593,452	$ 1,202,668
Total expenses	565,447	431,816	1,557,620	1,181,860
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	2,645	2,146	7,566	5,914
Total expenses	1,761	1,618	5,208	4,747
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Intercompany charges	27,239	31,310	87,540	91,631
Total revenues	597,769	448,727	1,601,018	1,208,582
Total expenses	594,447	464,744	1,650,368	1,278,238
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	17	12	40	(2)
(Loss) income before income taxes	3,339	(16,005)	(49,310)	(69,658)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,987	(2,541)	37,586	425
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	4,839	15,474	36,387	42,677
Net (loss) income	(809)	2,010	(50,509)	(27,406)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	105,241	79,672	302,012	214,669
Total expenses	105,491	69,406	282,981	188,271
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	13,840	12,214	44,148	32,025
Total expenses	7,139	6,610	21,525	18,218
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Intercompany charges	(806)	64
Total revenues	119,081	91,950	346,160	246,694
Total expenses	111,824	76,016	304,506	206,489
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,418)	(460)	(5,267)	2,472
(Loss) income before income taxes	4,839	15,474	36,387	42,677
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	4,839	15,474	36,387	42,677
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	32,225	38,284	101,432	114,499
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Intercompany charges	26,433	31,246	87,540	91,631
Total revenues	26,433	31,246	87,540	91,631
Total expenses	32,225	38,284	101,432	114,499
(Loss) income before income taxes	(5,792)	(7,038)	(13,892)	(22,868)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(6,936)		(22,264)
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	93	(13,855)	(26,979)	(40,219)
Net (loss) income	1,237	(20,893)	(18,607)	(63,087)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	1,277	2,416	2,874	9,209
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Total expenses	16	16	16	104
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Total revenues
Total expenses	1,293	2,432	2,890	9,313
(Loss) income before income taxes	(1,293)	(2,432)	(2,890)	(9,313)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(484)	224	(19,919)	(17,968)
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	335	(5,028)	(42,137)	(50,274)
Net (loss) income	(474)	(7,684)	(25,108)	(41,619)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Intercompany charges	(26,433)	(31,310)	(87,540)	(91,631)
Total revenues	(26,433)	(31,310)	(87,540)	(91,631)
Total expenses	(26,433)	(31,310)	(87,540)	(91,631)
(Loss) income before income taxes
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(5,267)	3,409	32,729	47,816
Net (loss) income	(5,267)	3,409	32,729	47,816
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding revenue	700,365	526,253	1,895,464	1,417,337
Total revenues	700,336	526,284	1,895,527	1,417,443
Total expenses	704,440	541,922	1,944,907	1,493,839
(Loss) income before income taxes	18,228	16,524	27,875	31,132
Financial Services [Member]
Financial services revenue	16,485	14,360	51,714	37,939
Total revenues	16,485	14,360	51,714	37,939
Total expenses	8,916	8,244	26,749	23,069
(Loss) income before income taxes	7,569	6,116	24,965	14,870
Intercompany charges
Total revenues	716,850	540,613	1,947,178	1,455,276
Total expenses	713,356	550,166	1,971,656	1,516,908
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,401)	(448)	(5,227)	2,470
(Loss) income before income taxes	1,093	(10,001)	(29,705)	(59,162)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,567	(2,317)	(4,597)	(17,543)
Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$ (474)	$ (7,684)	$ (25,108)	$ (41,619)