Information on Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,437,202	$ 1,028,011	$ 852,583	$ 853,452	$ 1,350,690	$ 1,056,857	$ 860,374	$ 643,681	$ 4,171,248	$ 3,911,602	$ 2,674,299
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	217,543	$ 107,464	$ 86,532	$ 124,023	188,538	$ 151,325	$ 93,484	$ 71,235	535,562	504,582	267,697
Total assets
Total assets	9,206,515				8,398,457				9,206,515	8,398,457
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									702,175	662,734	485,052
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									59,172	56,983	32,648
Total assets
Total assets	1,061,777				1,053,787				1,061,777	1,053,787
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									845,328	817,306	652,855
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									69,093	78,971	79,801
Total assets
Total assets	1,225,988				1,267,563				1,225,988	1,267,563
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									892,303	836,498	641,331
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									152,991	113,584	67,934
Total assets
Total assets	1,196,650				1,165,600				1,196,650	1,165,600
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									665,282	517,925	369,697
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									106,365	78,802	42,731
Total assets
Total assets	949,566				755,849				949,566	755,849
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									750,036	795,802	354,673
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									139,133	157,561	68,570
Total assets
Total assets	2,243,309				1,920,315				2,243,309	1,920,315
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									3,855,124	3,630,265	2,503,608
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									526,754	485,901	291,684
Total assets
Total assets	6,677,290				6,163,114				6,677,290	6,163,114
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									316,124	281,337	170,691
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									124,290	104,580	$ 53,345
Total assets
Total assets	873,013				834,949				$ 873,013	$ 834,949
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									$ (115,482)	$ (85,899)	$ (77,332)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,656,212				$ 1,400,394				$ 1,656,212	$ 1,400,394