Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 1) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) joint_ventures	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	21
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 414,864	$ 412,860
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	9
Other Commitment | $	$ 274,814
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	7
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 211,965	214,060
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	5
Future Financing To Be Obtained By JV | $	$ 90,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	3
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 76,972	76,120
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	2
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	10
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 116,338	110,454
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	2
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	1
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 9,589	$ 12,226
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	0
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment | $	$ 251,607
Number of joint ventures with funding commitments expected to be funded through borrowings | joint_ventures	1
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment | $	$ 18,768
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment | $	4,439
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment | $	$ 0