Note 18 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2022	Jan. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Assets	$ 2,309,167		$ 2,320,508
Liabilities	2,112,280		2,145,124
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	196,488		174,897
Others	399		487
Total equity	196,887	$ (416,335)	175,384	$ (436,094)
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,309,167		2,320,508
Debt to capitalization ratio	30.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 565,313	574,664
Joint venture net income (loss)	24,808	18,959
Our share of net income (loss)	8,191	1,916
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	155,611		134,935
Inventories	451,029		442,347
Other assets	34,942		34,551
Assets	641,582		611,833
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	439,580		387,798
Notes payable	60,306		73,994
Liabilities	499,886		461,792
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	64,460		58,714
Others	77,236		91,327
Total equity	141,696		150,041
Total liabilities and equity	$ 641,582		$ 611,833
Debt to capitalization ratio	30.00%		33.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 69,704	71,727
Cost of sales and expenses	(65,608)	(71,301)
Joint venture net income (loss)	4,096	426
Our share of net income (loss)	8,192	2,006
Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	153,943		$ 132,963
Inventories	451,029		442,347
Other assets	34,942		34,551
Assets	639,914		609,861
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	438,290		386,117
Notes payable	60,306		73,994
Liabilities	498,596		460,111
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	64,162		58,460
Others	77,156		91,290
Total equity	141,318		149,750
Total liabilities and equity	$ 639,914		$ 609,861
Debt to capitalization ratio	30.00%		33.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 69,591	71,464
Cost of sales and expenses	(65,582)	(71,273)
Joint venture net income (loss)	4,009	191
Our share of net income (loss)	8,147	1,911
Land Development Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,668		$ 1,972
Inventories	0		0
Other assets	0		0
Assets	1,668		1,972
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,290		1,681
Notes payable	0		0
Liabilities	1,290		1,681
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	298		254
Others	80		37
Total equity	378		291
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,668		$ 1,972
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.00%		0.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 113	263
Cost of sales and expenses	(26)	(28)
Joint venture net income (loss)	87	235
Our share of net income (loss)	$ 45	$ 95