Information on Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Inventory
Inventory	$ 3,761,187				$ 3,416,723								$ 3,761,187	$ 3,416,723
Inventory impairments and write-offs													14,739	51,837	115,258
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	330,617				126,355								330,617	126,355
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													(2,311)	40,870	0
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	56,300				46,581								56,300	46,581
Inventory impairments and write-offs													451	17,752	6,069
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,040,373				979,145								1,040,373	979,145
Inventory impairments and write-offs													1,218	17,000	55,700
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	2,664,514				2,390,997								2,664,514	2,390,997
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,400	2,685	2,560	6,425	710	175	10,725	5,475	9,119	6,600	15,020	22,750	13,070	17,085	53,489
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	142,213				40,734								142,213	40,734
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	13,196				19,390								13,196	19,390
Inventory impairments and write-offs													(881)	948	3,947
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	226,082				231,085								226,082	231,085
Inventory impairments and write-offs															15,900
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	803,085				738,473								803,085	738,473
Inventory impairments and write-offs													2,725	2,885	9,557
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	27,249				21,592								27,249	21,592
Inventory impairments and write-offs													327	307	(81)
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	431,620				455,818								431,620	455,818
Inventory impairments and write-offs													300	300	9,000
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	729,739				659,081								729,739	659,081
Inventory impairments and write-offs													5,500	3,700	2,100
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	31,252				32,000								31,252	32,000
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities														15,170
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	7,724				3,812								7,724	3,812
Inventory impairments and write-offs													800	313	(233)
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	141,644				125,461								141,644	125,461
Inventory impairments and write-offs													918	16,700	13,950
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	603,239				539,582								603,239	539,582
Inventory impairments and write-offs													4,245	3,800	23,444
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	116,452				17,098								116,452	17,098
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													(2,311)	25,700
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	8,131				1,787								8,131	1,787
Inventory impairments and write-offs													205	16,184	2,436
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	241,027				166,781								241,027	166,781
Inventory impairments and write-offs															16,850
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	528,451				453,861								528,451	453,861
Inventory impairments and write-offs													600	6,700	18,388
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	40,700				36,523								40,700	36,523
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities