Note 20 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Total expenses	$ 588,830	$ 670,981	$ 1,146,496	$ 1,258,300
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(242)		7,404
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,562)	(1,346)	(6,228)	(2,826)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(7,699)	(17,604)	(7,376)	(30,798)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,017)	(9,143)	(551)	(6,164)
Net (loss) income	(6,682)	(8,461)	(6,825)	(24,634)
Total revenues	585,935	654,723	1,137,944	1,230,328
Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	581,470	661,363	1,132,281	1,240,467
Homebuilding revenue	571,441	637,720	1,110,601	1,195,099
Financial Services [Member]
Total expenses	7,360	9,618	14,215	17,833
Financial services revenue	14,494	17,003	27,343	35,229
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Total expenses	497,726	553,214	966,972	1,055,921
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	20	7	36	23
(Loss) income before income taxes	(11,015)	(27,113)	(22,375)	(52,649)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	13,609	4,152	37,551	28,599
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	14,798	15,995	29,465	31,548
Net (loss) income	(9,826)	(15,270)	(30,461)	(49,700)
Intercompany charges	23,218	25,838	46,158	60,301
Total revenues	486,691	526,094	944,561	1,003,249
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	472,748	525,553	917,341	992,173
Homebuilding revenue	483,942	523,418	939,314	998,328
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Total expenses	1,760	1,823	3,473	3,447
Financial services revenue	2,749	2,676	5,247	4,921
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Total expenses	79,864	111,281	157,654	192,682
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,582)	(1,353)	(6,264)	(2,849)
(Loss) income before income taxes	14,798	15,995	29,465	31,548
Net (loss) income	14,798	15,995	29,465	31,548
Intercompany charges		729		806
Total revenues	99,244	128,629	193,383	227,079
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	74,264	102,757	146,912	177,490
Homebuilding revenue	87,499	114,302	171,287	196,771
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Total expenses	5,600	7,795	10,742	14,386
Financial services revenue	11,745	14,327	22,096	30,308
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Total expenses	32,987	33,396	66,029	69,207
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(242)		7,404
(Loss) income before income taxes	(10,011)	(6,829)	(12,467)	(8,100)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(8,354)	(8,410)	(15,289)	(15,328)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(14,886)	(13,562)	(28,889)	(27,072)
Net (loss) income	(16,543)	(11,981)	(26,067)	(19,844)
Intercompany charges	23,218	26,567	46,158	61,107
Total revenues	23,218	26,567	46,158	61,107
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	32,987	33,396	66,029	69,207
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Total expenses	1,471	(343)	1,999	1,597
(Loss) income before income taxes	(1,471)	343	(1,999)	(1,597)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(6,272)	(4,885)	(22,813)	(19,435)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(11,483)	(13,689)	(27,639)	(42,472)
Net (loss) income	(6,682)	(8,461)	(6,825)	(24,634)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Total expenses	1,471	(343)	1,999	1,597
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Total expenses	(23,218)	(26,567)	(46,158)	(61,107)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	11,571	11,256	27,063	37,996
Net (loss) income	11,571	11,256	27,063	37,996
Intercompany charges	(23,218)	(26,567)	(46,158)	(61,107)
Total revenues	$ (23,218)	$ (26,567)	$ (46,158)	$ (61,107)