Other Income - Net (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses	$ 4,139	$ 4,667	$ 11,559	$ 18,392
Land Sales	64,109	$ 12,281	77,701	139,027
Rental Property Joint Ventures Metro Washington, D.C. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales	37,700		$ 37,700
Retail Land Sales, Installment Method, Gross Profit, Deferred, Percentage			50.00%
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture	2,607		$ 2,607
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales				$ 78,500
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		25.00%		25.00%
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture				$ 9,260
Security Monitoring Business [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses	$ 1,600			$ 8,100
Co-venturer [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures Metro Washington, D.C. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales			$ 20,200
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%