Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of loan pools on non-accrual status	0
Additional Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of years to complete a community	4 years
Number of years to complete a master planned community	10 years
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 159,500,000	$ 157,500,000
Depreciation	10,800,000	8,100,000	9,800,000
Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities, Provision for Loan Losses	700,000	2,300,000	0
Advertising Expense	$ 11,600,000	$ 11,400,000	$ 11,100,000
More Likely Than Not Definition Threshold	50.00%
Condition for accounting in investments as per equity method	Investments in 50% or less owned partnerships and affiliates are accounted for using the equity method unless it is determined that the Company has effective control of the entity, in which case the entity would be consolidated
Percentage Investment in Partnerships and Affiliates up to which Accounted as Equity Method Investment	50.00%
Minimum Period to Develop Sell and Deliver Home in Community after Land Development Approval
Minimum Period to Develop Master Planned Communities
Consolidated venture [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	67.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners	33.00%