Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Debt to capitalization ratio	45.00%								45.00%
Our share of net income (loss)	$ 17,134	$ 10,732	$ 1,343	$ (5,176)	$ 3,062	$ (3,881)	$ (4,562)	$ (1,666)	$ 24,033	$ (7,047)	$ (4,346)
Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	52,285				60,774				52,285	60,774
Inventories	514,654				675,179				514,654	675,179
Other assets	35,105				36,026				35,105	36,026
Total assets	602,044				771,979				602,044	771,979
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	79,854				122,075				79,854	122,075
Notes payable	236,665				330,642				236,665	330,642
Total liabilities	316,519				452,717				316,519	452,717
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	119,319				92,630				119,319	92,630
Others	166,206				226,632				166,206	226,632
Total equity	285,525				319,262				285,525	319,262
Total liabilities and equity	$ 602,044				$ 771,979				$ 602,044	$ 771,979
Debt to capitalization ratio	45.00%				51.00%				45.00%	51.00%
Revenues									$ 609,099	$ 317,849	147,717
Cost of sales and expenses									(582,279)	(329,147)	(165,534)
Joint venture net income (loss)									26,820	(11,298)	(17,817)
Our share of net income (loss)									24,527	(6,663)	(4,326)
Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 50,010				$ 60,580				50,010	60,580
Inventories	506,650				666,017				506,650	666,017
Other assets	35,105				36,026				35,105	36,026
Total assets	591,765				762,623				591,765	762,623
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	79,108				121,646				79,108	121,646
Notes payable	236,665				330,642				236,665	330,642
Total liabilities	315,773				452,288				315,773	452,288
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	114,950				88,884				114,950	88,884
Others	161,042				221,451				161,042	221,451
Total equity	275,992				310,335				275,992	310,335
Total liabilities and equity	$ 591,765				$ 762,623				$ 591,765	$ 762,623
Debt to capitalization ratio	46.00%				52.00%				46.00%	52.00%
Revenues									$ 602,681	$ 312,164	141,418
Cost of sales and expenses									(577,106)	(324,514)	(159,431)
Joint venture net income (loss)									25,575	(12,350)	(18,013)
Our share of net income (loss)									23,904	(7,189)	(4,424)
Land Development Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,275				$ 194				2,275	194
Inventories	8,004				9,162				8,004	9,162
Other assets
Total assets	10,279				9,356				10,279	9,356
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	746				429				746	429
Notes payable
Total liabilities	746				429				746	429
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	4,369				3,746				4,369	3,746
Others	5,164				5,181				5,164	5,181
Total equity	9,533				8,927				9,533	8,927
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,279				$ 9,356				$ 10,279	$ 9,356
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.00%				0.00%				0.00%	0.00%
Revenues									$ 6,418	$ 5,685	6,299
Cost of sales and expenses									(5,173)	(4,633)	(6,103)
Joint venture net income (loss)									1,245	1,052	196
Our share of net income (loss)									$ 623	$ 526	$ 98