Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization									$ 103,297	$ 97,304	$ 90,967
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total	$ (1,830)	$ (4,266)	$ (1,440)			$ (42,258)	$ (242)	$ 7,646	(7,536)	(34,854)	(3,200)
Increase (Decrease) In Construction Defect Reserves	$ (10,200)				$ 12,500
Qualifying Assets Not Exceeding Debt [Member]
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization									76,200	69,100	50,400
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
General and Administrative Expense, Total									69,600	59,400	60,100
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total									(7,500)	(34,900)	(3,200)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total									14,100	900	800
Increase (Decrease) In Construction Defect Reserves										12,500	(9,200)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Qualifying Assets Not Exceeding Debt [Member]
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization									$ 76,200	$ 69,100	$ 50,400
Homebuilding [Member]
Number of Reportable Segments									6