Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	$ 1,029				$ 2,008		$ 1,738	$ 10,128
Inventory	4,367,217		3,761,187				4,367,217		3,761,187
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	357,532		330,617				357,532		330,617
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				(1,621)		0	(1,621)
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	689				(552)		698	225
Inventory	62,203		56,300				62,203		56,300
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0		0	918
Inventory	1,083,250		1,040,373				1,083,250		1,040,373
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	340	700	1,400	2,685	2,560	6,425	1,040	8,985	13,070
Inventory	3,221,764		2,664,514				3,221,764		2,664,514
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	166,210		142,213				166,210		142,213
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	712				(1,020)		799	(996)
Inventory	19,676		13,196				19,676		13,196
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	319,380		226,082				319,380		226,082
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	340				460		840	2,725
Inventory	955,651		803,085				955,651		803,085
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1				482		17	680
Inventory	25,635		27,249				25,635		27,249
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	378,386		431,620				378,386		431,620
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs					2,100			2,100
Inventory	885,905		729,739				885,905		729,739
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	46,181		31,252				46,181		31,252
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	5				13		361	569
Inventory	7,749		7,724				7,749		7,724
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs								918
Inventory	133,888		141,644				133,888		141,644
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs								4,160
Inventory	709,255		603,239				709,255		603,239
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	108,511		116,452				108,511		116,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities					(1,621)			(1,621)
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	(29)				(27)		(479)	(28)
Inventory	9,143		8,131				9,143		8,131
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Inventory	251,596		241,027				251,596		241,027
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs							200
Inventory	670,953		528,451				670,953		528,451
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	36,630		40,700				36,630		40,700
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities