Information on Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015
Revenues
Revenues	$ 928,566	$ 853,452
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	116,817	124,023
Total assets
Total assets	8,763,437		$ 9,206,515
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	120,818	132,436
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	8,033	10,567
Total assets
Total assets	1,103,413		1,061,777
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	169,808	163,388
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,983	18,724
Total assets
Total assets	1,220,407		1,225,988
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	146,798	161,867
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	21,245	23,324
Total assets
Total assets	1,244,100		1,196,650
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	137,258	122,353
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	19,688	20,431
Total assets
Total assets	1,028,305		949,566
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	216,903	165,589
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,536	24,928
Total assets
Total assets	2,277,125		2,243,309
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	791,585	745,633
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	109,485	97,974
Total assets
Total assets	6,873,350		6,677,290
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	136,981	107,819
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,680	51,345
Total assets
Total assets	846,668		873,013
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(36,348)	$ (25,296)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,043,419		$ 1,656,212