Note 16 - Operating and Reporting Segments - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017
Total revenues		$ 417,166		$ 552,009
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		(30,471)	$ (50,200)	323
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Total revenues	[1]	4,180		133
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	[1]	(34,842)		(22,046)
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		402,098		539,027
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		1,824		16,375
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		20,199		58,575
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		(9,701)		906
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		71,297		100,226
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		1,952		3,882
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		40,579		43,702
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		(2,344)		712
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		56,668		56,584
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		(1,661)		(294)
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		128,305		183,409
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		5,511		11,923
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		85,050		96,531
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		8,067		(754)
Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Total revenues		10,888		12,849
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		$ 2,547		$ 5,994

[1] Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended January 31, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $19.1 million, interest expense of $19.6 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) and $(3.9) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income, gain on the sale of our corporate headquarters building and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended January 31, 2017 included corporate general and administrative costs of $15.7 million, interest expense of $13.3 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), gain on extinguishment of debt of $(7.6) million and $0.6 million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income, rental income, bond amortization and stock compensation.