Represents the period of extension requested for the time to respond in relation to a litigation case.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_LitigationCaseExtensionPeriodRequested
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount sought from other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LitigationSettlementAmountSoughtFromOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of the plaintiff's costs that the plaintiff demands the defendant to pay.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LossContingencyPercentageOfPlaintiffsCostsForWhichReimbursementIsDemanded
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of supersedeas bond that was posted in order to delay payment of a judgment until after the appeal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LossContingencySupersedeasBond
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931803&loc=d3e12021-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hov_SeniorNotesDue2019135SeniorNotesDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hov_EightPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hov_ThirteenAndAHalfPercentSeniorNotesDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hov_FivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_EPACaseInvolvingAHousingRedevelopmentProjectInNewarkNewJerseyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_GrandviewAtRiverwalkPortImperialCondominiumAssociationConstructionDefectLawsuitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=hov_BreachOfWarrantyAndNewJerseyFraudClaimsPriorToStatutoryTreblingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=hov_AttorneyFeesAndCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_ConstructionAndDesignDefectsLawsuitFromSecondCondominiumAssociationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_ClassActionLawsuitFiledByPlaintiffJosephHongMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details Textual) - USD ($)							3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	May 10, 2018	May 02, 2018	Jan. 12, 2018	Dec. 15, 2017	Nov. 18, 2017	Jun. 01, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2018	Feb. 16, 2018	Feb. 01, 2018	Jan. 11, 2018
8.0% Senior Notes due 2019, 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 and 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount											$ 185,000,000
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 170,200,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage								8.00%		8.00%	8.00%
Thirteen and a Half Percent Senior Notes Due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 90,600,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage								13.50%		13.50%	13.50%
Five Percent Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 90,100,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage										5.00%	5.00%
EPA Case Involving a Housing Redevelopment Project in Newark, New Jersey [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingency, Percentage of Plaintiff's Costs for Which Reimbursement is Demanded		100.00%
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value		$ 2,700,000
Litigation Case, Extension Period Requested		15 days
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value								$ 41,300,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value						$ 9,000,000
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party			$ 10,400,000
Loss Contingency, Supersedeas Bond									$ 11,100,000
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss								0
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss								$ 11,100,000
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Breach of Warranty and New Jersey Fraud Claims Prior to Statutory Trebling [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value						$ 3,000,000
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Attorney Fees and Costs [Member]
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party				$ 1,400,000	$ 1,800,000
Litigation Settlement, Amount Sought from Other Party					$ 4,800,000
Construction and Design Defects Lawsuit from Second Condominium Association [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value							$ 69,000,000
Construction and Design Defects Lawsuit from Second Condominium Association [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value							$ 79,000,000
Class Action Lawsuit Filed by Plaintiff Joseph Hong [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Payments for Legal Settlements	$ 275,000