Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Inventory
Inventory	$ 6,548,024		$ 4,650,412				$ 6,548,024		$ 4,650,412
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,924				1,029		3,906	1,738
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	441,842		403,133				441,842		403,133
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0		0	0
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	139,961		99,802				139,961		99,802
Inventory impairments and write-offs	324				689		1,006	698
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	2,385,234		1,287,630				2,385,234		1,287,630
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0		0	0
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	4,022,829		3,262,980				4,022,829		3,262,980
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,600	1,300	2,200	100	340	700	2,900	1,040	3,340
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	16,783		16,267				16,783		16,267
Inventory impairments and write-offs	67				712		247		799
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	155,192		135,282				155,192		135,282
Inventory impairments and write-offs
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	800,837		785,175				800,837		785,175
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,600				340		2,900	840
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	11,850		11,850				11,850		11,850
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	29,987		29,423				29,987		29,423
Inventory impairments and write-offs	81				1		326		17
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	226,783		308,585				226,783		308,585
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	958,435		866,256				958,435		866,256
Inventory impairments and write-offs
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	98,409		50,452				98,409		50,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	29,813		14,606				29,813		14,606
Inventory impairments and write-offs	90				5		339		361
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	257,587		158,457				257,587		158,457
Inventory impairments and write-offs
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	735,898		690,302				735,898		690,302
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	83,851		110,467				83,851		110,467
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	14,274		13,371				14,274		13,371
Inventory impairments and write-offs	86				(29)		94		(479)
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,428,525		448,125				1,428,525		448,125
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,287,375		697,573				1,287,375		697,573
Inventory impairments and write-offs								200
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	194,110		172,769				194,110		172,769
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0		0	0
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	90,857		73,667				90,857		73,667
Inventory impairments and write-offs	324				689		1,006	698
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	2,068,087		1,050,449				2,068,087		1,050,449
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0		0	0
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,782,545		3,039,306				3,782,545		3,039,306
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,600				340		2,900	1,040
City Living [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	149,374		135,950				149,374		135,950
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	49,104		26,135				49,104		26,135
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	317,147		237,181				317,147		237,181
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	240,284		223,674				240,284		223,674
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	98,358		94,414				98,358		94,414
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities