Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 1) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) joint_ventures	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	24
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 424,268	$ 412,860
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	10
Other Commitment | $	$ 289,155
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 | $	$ 209,647
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 | $	$ 79,837
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 | $	$ 119,962
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	2
Gibraltar Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures	4
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | $	$ 14,822
Number of joint venture with funding commitments | joint_ventures	1
Other Commitment | $	$ 10,000
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 | $	$ 250,792
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 | $	$ 17,194
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 | $	$ 11,169