Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Baker Ranch [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 South Edge LLC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Condominium joint venture (three) [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Condominium New JV [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Trust II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Impairment Charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1,621,000)	$ 39,600,000								$ 0	$ 0			$ (1,600,000)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Investments in joint ventures	311,481,000		311,481,000		126,355,000	35,674,000	34,651,000	29,100,000				117,305,000	117,305,000	17,098,000			124,300,000		124,300,000		3,927,000	83,958,000	31,000,000	300,000		300,000		3,000,000
Structured Asset Joint Venture Description						it is a 20% participant with two unrelated parties to purchase a 40% interest in an entity that owns and controls a portfolio of loans and real estate
Funding Commitments related to one Development Joint Venture												3,500,000	3,500,000				37,500,000		37,500,000		49,200,000		8,300,000
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted																					9,800,000
Owned by Third Party																										33.30%		50.00%
Percentage ownership held by company															50.00%						50.00%					33.30%		50.00%
Percent owned by Company's Management																										33.30%
unimproved lots controlled by JV															2,000
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			195,813,000												110,000,000
Development finance and management services recognized during period																								600,000	500,000	1,700,000	1,600,000
Cumulative impairment charges in connection with joint ventures																	63,900,000		63,900,000				15,200,000
Aggregate exposure with respect to its estimated obligations	$ 2,101,000		$ 2,101,000		$ 60,205,000