Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	$ 3,120				$ 16,812			$ 13,249	$ 34,861
Inventory	3,784,705			3,416,723				3,784,705		3,416,723
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	311,481			126,355				311,481		126,355
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0			(1,621)	39,600
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	435				637			661	2,486
Inventory	52,662			46,581				52,662		46,581
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	2,685	2,560	6,425	710	175	10,725	5,475	11,670	16,375	17,085
Inventory	2,635,647			2,390,997				2,635,647		2,390,997
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				16,000			918	16,000
Inventory	1,096,396			979,145				1,096,396		979,145
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	124,255			40,734				124,255		40,734
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	47				405			(949)	804
Inventory	9,540			19,390				9,540		19,390
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs					100			2,725	2,825
Inventory	745,827			738,473				745,827		738,473
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	287,799			231,085				287,799		231,085
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	41				168			722	254
Inventory	33,867			21,592				33,867		21,592
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	2,000							4,100	3,700
Inventory	746,263			659,081				746,263		659,081
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	441,495			455,818				441,495		455,818
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	31,017			32,000				31,017		32,000
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									10,000
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	231							799	312
Inventory	1,991			3,812				1,991		3,812
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	85							4,245	3,800
Inventory	588,934			539,582				588,934		539,582
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs					16,000			918	16,000
Inventory	132,888			125,461				132,888		125,461
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	117,305			17,098				117,305		17,098
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities								(1,621)	29,600
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	116				64			89	1,116
Inventory	7,264			1,787				7,264		1,787
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	600				75			600	6,050
Inventory	554,623			453,861				554,623		453,861
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	234,214			166,781				234,214		166,781
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	38,904			36,523				38,904		36,523
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities