Note 8 - Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Customer's Deposits (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total	$ 11,900	$ 13,300
Mortgage Warehouse Lines of Credit [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	2,000	2,300
Homebuilding [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	13,957	2,077
Homebuilding [Member] | Customer Deposits [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	200	400
Homebuilding [Member] | Cash Collateral for a Bond Related to the Grandview Litigation [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	11,100
Financial Services [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	25,200	22,300
Financial Services [Member] | Customer Deposits [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total	$ 23,200	$ 20,000