Information on Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,269,934	$ 1,028,011	$ 3,314,057	$ 2,734,046
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	163,653	107,464	420,867	318,019
Total assets
Total assets	9,405,699		9,405,699		$ 9,206,515
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	205,200	180,705	491,692	463,159
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	18,994	14,487	35,300	27,918
Total assets
Total assets	1,122,979		1,122,979		1,061,777
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	220,596	228,304	576,991	579,195
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	18,478	9,432	56,348	50,251
Total assets
Total assets	1,233,802		1,233,802		1,225,988
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	232,118	233,504	571,364	611,288
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	32,386	38,360	84,765	100,960
Total assets
Total assets	1,230,005		1,230,005		1,196,650
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	223,076	179,155	548,701	455,573
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	30,313	28,826	74,164	73,811
Total assets
Total assets	1,168,085		1,168,085		949,566
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	336,438	145,833	881,779	439,824
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	80,293	25,040	198,776	71,684
Total assets
Total assets	2,573,603		2,573,603		2,243,309
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,217,428	967,501	3,070,527	2,549,039
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	180,464	116,145	449,353	324,624
Total assets
Total assets	7,328,474		7,328,474		6,677,290
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	52,506	60,510	243,530	185,007
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	14,682	22,309	74,598	80,314
Total assets
Total assets	894,105		894,105		873,013
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(31,493)	$ (30,990)	(103,084)	$ (86,919)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,183,120		$ 1,183,120		$ 1,656,212