Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment	382	360
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 0	$ 800
Number of Walk Away Lots	420	420
Homebuilding [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 0	$ 800
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations		1
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment		$ 2,300
Land Option Write Offs	$ 100	$ 1,100
Number of Communities Mothballed	6		6
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities	$ 4,300		$ 4,300
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities Accumulated Impairment Charges	57,500		57,500
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	75,344		62,762
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	36,200		32,500
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	36,500		31,500
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	88,600		66,200
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 38,800		$ 31,300
Homebuilding [Member] | Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Inventory, Measurement Input		0.193