Receivables, Prepaid Expenses, and Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets [Abstract]
Expected recoveries from insurance carriers and others	$ 158,353	$ 165,696
Improvement cost receivable	100,092	85,627
Escrow cash held by our captive title company	46,937	138,633
Property held for rental apartment development	143,896	81,693
Investment in foreclosed real estate owned	4,098	11,552
Prepaid expenses	18,765	25,659
Other	64,383	73,898
Receivables, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	$ 536,524	$ 582,758