Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 253,775	$ 469,320
Assets	1,642,491	1,900,898
Liabilities	2,142,467	2,361,269
Income taxes payable	1,902	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 April 30, 2018 and at October 31, 2017	135,299	135,299
Paid in capital – common stock	707,487	706,466
Accumulated deficit	(1,229,008)	(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 April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017	(115,360)	(115,360)
Total stockholders’ equity deficit	(499,976)	(460,371)
Total liabilities and equity	1,642,491	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	248,815	463,697
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	13,957	2,077
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	856,620	744,119
Land and land options held for future development or sale	104,518	140,924
Consolidated inventory not owned	78,907	124,784
Total inventories	1,040,045	1,009,827
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	88,344	115,090
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	70,168	58,149
Property, plant and equipment, net	19,944	52,919
Prepaid expenses and other assets	40,529	37,026
Assets	1,521,802	1,738,785
Accounts payable and other liabilities	288,120	335,057
Customers’ deposits	30,997	33,772
Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs	53,515	91,101
Revolving and term loan credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs	257,129	124,987
Notes payable (net of discount, premium and debt issuance costs) and accrued interest	1,340,246	1,554,687
Liabilities	2,040,651	2,217,128
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Inventory [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs	70,644	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	4,960	5,623
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	25,200	22,300
Other assets	115,729	156,490
Liabilities	$ 99,914	$ 141,914