Note 16 - Operating and Reporting Segments - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Apr. 30, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017
Revenues, Total		$ 502,544		$ 585,935	$ 919,710	$ 1,137,944
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		(9,578)	$ (50,200)	(7,699)	(40,049)	(7,376)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Revenues, Total	[1]	475		139	4,655	272
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	[1]	(37,317)		(32,389)	(72,159)	(54,435)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues, Total		489,490		571,441	895,768	1,110,601
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		489,015		571,302	891,113	1,110,329
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		23,483		17,556	25,307	33,931
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		43,771		45,950	63,970	104,525
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		5,960		(2,722)	(3,741)	(1,816)
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		104,160		100,600	175,457	200,826
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		6,700		918	8,652	4,800
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		42,938		42,019	83,517	85,721
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		(1,110)		(3,170)	(3,454)	(2,458)
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		60,901		56,635	117,569	113,219
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		(5,286)		428	(6,947)	134
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		159,147		225,255	287,452	408,664
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		10,047		19,785	15,558	31,708
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		78,098		100,843	163,148	197,374
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		7,172		2,317	15,239	1,563
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues, Total		13,054		14,494	23,942	27,343
Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		13,054		14,494	23,942	27,343
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		$ 4,256		$ 7,134	$ 6,803	$ 13,128

[1] Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended April 30, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $16.2 million, interest expense of $19.9 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.4 million and $(0.1) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and gain on the sale of our corporate headquarters building. Corporate and unallocated for the six months ended April 30, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $35.3 million, interest expense of $39.5 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.4 million and $(4.0) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and gain on the sale of our corporate headquarters building. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended April 30, 2017 included corporate general and administrative costs of $16.1 million, interest expense of $16.0 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million and $0.1 million of other income and expenses primarily related to rental income. Corporate and unallocated for the six months ended April 30, 2017 included corporate general and administrative costs of $31.7 million, interest expense of $29.3 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), gain on extinguishment of debt of $7.4 million and $0.8 million of other income and expenses primarily related to bond amortization and rental income.