Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2022	Oct. 31, 2021
ASSETS
Assets	$ 2,309,167	$ 2,320,508
Assets	2,309,167	2,320,508
Deferred tax assets, net	416,213	425,678
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Senior notes and credit facilities (net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs)	1,247,221	1,248,373
Liabilities	2,112,280	2,145,124
Liabilities	2,112,280	2,145,124
Income taxes payable	4,973	3,851
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at January 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021	135,299	135,299
Paid in capital - common stock	721,570	722,118
Accumulated deficit	(545,089)	(567,228)
Treasury stock - at cost – 470,430 shares of Class A common stock and 27,669 shares of Class B common stock at January 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021	(115,360)	(115,360)
Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity	196,488	174,897
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	399	487
Total equity	196,887	175,384
Total liabilities and equity	2,309,167	2,320,508
Common Class A [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Common Stock	61	61
Common Class B [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Common Stock	7	7
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	137,898	245,970
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	14,260	16,089
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	1,112,928	1,019,541
Land and land options held for future development or sale	175,615	135,992
Consolidated inventory not owned	124,845	98,727
Total inventories	1,413,388	1,254,260
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	67,467	60,897
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	34,798	39,934
Property, plant and equipment, net	20,017	18,736
Prepaid expenses and other assets	62,069	56,186
Assets	1,749,897	1,692,072
Assets	1,749,897	1,692,072
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	335,669	426,381
Customers’ deposits	83,219	68,295
Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs	75,344	62,762
Senior notes and credit facilities (net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs)	1,247,221	1,248,373
Accrued Interest	47,269	28,154
Liabilities	1,985,108	1,959,054
Liabilities	1,985,108	1,959,054
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Inventory [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs	196,386	125,089
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	6,846
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	50,854
Assets	143,057	202,758
Assets	143,057	202,758
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities	122,199	182,219
Liabilities	$ 122,199	$ 182,219