Credit Facility, Loans Payable, Senior Notes, Senior Subordinated Notes and Mortgage Company Warehouse Loan Credit Facility, Loans Payable, Senior Notes, Senior Subordinated Notes and Mortgage Company Warehouse Loan (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Sep. 05, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	$ 2,080,463		$ 1,490,972
6.875% Senior notes due 2012 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	59,068		139,776
5.95% Senior notes due 2013 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	104,785		141,635
4.95% Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	267,960		267,960
5.15% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	300,000		300,000
8.91% Senior Notes due 2017 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	400,000		400,000
6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	250,000		250,000
5.875 % senior notes due 2022 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	419,876
0.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes Due 2032 [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Senior notes	287,500	287,500
Senior Notes [Member]
Senior Notes [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	$ (8,726)		$ (8,399)