Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 0	$ 0	$ 800	$ 0
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment			362	374
Homebuilding [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate		0	$ 800	$ 0
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations			1	1
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment			$ 2,300	$ 600
Land Option Write Offs	$ 100	$ 1,000	$ 1,200	$ 3,800
Number of Walk Away Lots	149	1,079	569	2,364
Number of Previously Mothballed Communities Sold During the Period			2
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated			2
Number of Mothballed Communities Partially Reactivated			2
Number of Communities Mothballed	8		8		12
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities	$ 4,400		$ 4,400		$ 11,400
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities Accumulated Impairment Charges	61,500		61,500		122,200
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	90,430		90,430		131,204
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	40,800		40,800		48,800
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	40,200		40,200		47,200
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	84,600		84,600		133,400
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 50,200		$ 50,200		$ 84,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member]
Inventory, Measurement Input			0.193