Accrued Expenses (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued expenses

Accrued expenses at October 31, 2014 and 2013, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

	2014		2013
Land, land development and construction	$	124,816	$	152,674
Compensation and employee benefits	118,607		111,561
Self-insurance	100,407		89,104
Warranty	86,282		43,819
Interest	33,993		25,675
Commitments to unconsolidated entities	3,293		3,804
Other	114,079		96,350
	$	581,477	$	522,987

Changes in the warranty accrual

We accrue for expected warranty costs at the time each home is closed and title and possession are transferred to the home buyer. Warranty costs are accrued based upon historical experience. The table below provides a reconciliation of the changes in our warranty accrual during fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012 as follows (amounts in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012
Balance, beginning of year	$	43,819		$	41,706		$	42,474
Additions - homes closed during the year	18,588			14,652			10,560
Addition - liabilities acquired	11,044						731
Increase (decrease) in accruals for homes closed in prior years	2,913			(184		)	479
Reclassification from self-insurance accruals*	7,554
Charge related to stucco-related claims*	24,950
Charges incurred	(22,586		)	(12,355		)	(12,538		)
Balance, end of year	$	86,282		$	43,819		$	41,706