Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 282,288	$ 469,320
Assets	1,645,937	1,900,898
Revolving credit facility	52,000	52,000
Liabilities	2,137,126	2,361,269
Income taxes payable	2,186	2,227
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at January 31, 2018 and at October 31, 2017	135,299	135,299
Paid in capital – common stock	706,451	706,466
Accumulated deficit	(1,219,185)	(1,188,376)
Treasury stock – at cost – 11,760,763 shares of Class A common stock and 691,748 shares of Class B common stock at January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017	(115,360)	(115,360)
Total stockholders’ equity deficit	(491,189)	(460,371)
Total liabilities and equity	1,645,937	1,900,898
Common Class A [Member]
Common stock	1,444	1,440
Common Class B [Member]
Common stock	162	160
Homebuilding [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	278,158	463,697
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,213	2,077
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	807,714	744,119
Land and land options held for future development or sale	151,925	140,924
Consolidated inventory not owned	93,875	124,784
Total inventories	1,053,514	1,009,827
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	92,262	115,090
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	53,816	58,149
Property, plant and equipment, net	19,505	52,919
Prepaid expenses and other assets	43,544	37,026
Assets	1,544,012	1,738,785
Accounts payable and other liabilities	289,099	335,057
Customers’ deposits	34,389	33,772
Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs	68,040	91,101
Revolving credit facility	52,000	52,000
Notes payable and term loan (net of discount and debt issuance costs) and accrued interest	1,545,324	1,627,674
Liabilities	2,053,302	2,217,128
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Inventory [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs	64,450	64,512
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured by Operating Properties [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs		13,012
Financial Services [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,130	5,623
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,900	22,300
Other assets	97,795	156,490
Liabilities	$ 81,638	$ 141,914