Note 16 - Operating and Reporting Segments - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017
Revenues, Total		$ 456,712	$ 592,035	$ 1,376,422	$ 1,729,979
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		78	(50,173)	(39,971)	(57,549)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Revenues, Total	[1]	510	483	5,165	755
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	[1]	(38,558)	(74,266)	(110,717)	(128,701)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues, Total		443,703	577,042	1,339,471	1,687,643
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		443,193	576,559	1,334,306	1,686,888
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		34,613	17,967	59,920	51,898
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		26,705	39,956	90,675	144,481
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		8,995	(5,737)	5,254	(7,553)
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		79,712	113,298	255,169	314,124
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		3,401	3,714	12,053	8,514
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		45,659	41,052	129,176	126,773
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		66	(3,313)	(3,388)	(5,771)
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		47,498	68,435	165,067	181,654
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		(4,752)	(1,580)	(11,699)	(1,446)
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		157,514	209,295	444,966	617,959
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		12,461	19,010	28,019	50,718
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		86,105	104,523	249,253	301,897
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		14,442	5,873	29,681	7,436
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues, Total		13,009	14,993	36,951	42,336
Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		13,009	14,993	36,951	42,336
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total		$ 4,023	$ 6,126	$ 10,826	$ 19,254

[1] Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $16.4 million, interest expense of $20.2 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.3 million and $(2.3) 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 nine months ended July 31, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $51.7 million, interest expense of $59.7 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $5.7 million and $(6.4) 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 July 31, 2017 included corporate general and administrative costs of $15.7 million, interest expense of $17.2 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $42.3 million and $0.9 million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income, rental income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2017 included corporate general and administrative costs of $47.4 million, interest expense of $46.5 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $34.9 million and $0.1 million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income, rental income, bond amortization and stock compensation.