Inventory (Details 1) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) communities	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) communities	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($) communities
Temporarily Closed communities
Inventory Write-down	$ 13,807	$ 35,709	$ 20,678
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Inventory Write-down	$ 3,142	$ 809	$ 3,123
Operating communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities | communities	3	11	9
Carrying Value	$ 8,523	$ 63,668	$ 42,092
Inventory Write-down	$ 8,365	$ 22,300	$ 17,555
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities | communities	18	15	16
Carrying Value	$ 123,936	$ 119,138	$ 122,015
Inventory Write-down	$ 2,300	$ 12,600