Supplemental Disclosure to Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$ 12,131	$ 23,930	$ 10,131
Income tax payment	185,084	205,412	71,608
Income tax refunds	4,451	16,965	8
Noncash activity:
Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	5,807	67,890	96,497
Financed portion of land sale		2,273	6,586
Reduction in inventory for our share of earnings in land purchased from unconsolidated entities and allocation of basis difference	9,012	9,188	4,177
Reclassification of deferred income from inventory to accrued liabilities	2,111
Reclassification of inventory to property, construction and office equipment	17,064		9,482
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized losses in defined benefit plans	1,699	(382)	1,183
Defined benefit retirement plan amendment	757	768	511
Deferred tax decrease related to stock-based compensation activity included in additional paid-in capital	11,363	2,325	312
Increase in accrued expenses related to stock-based compensation	6,240		5,086
Income tax (expense) benefit recognized in total comprehensive income	590	(200)	202
Transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities			4,152
Transfer of investment in unconsolidated entities to inventory		132,256	2,704
Transfer of other assets to investment in unconsolidated entities	24,967	4,852
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative held by equity investee		26	364
Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	29	1,843	1,356
Miscellaneous (decreases) increases to investments in unconsolidated entities	1,510	144	249
Acquisition of a Business:
Business Combination, Assets Acquired Net Of Cash Acquired			1,524,964
Fair Value of Liabilities Assumed Business Combination			35,848
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired			$ 1,489,116