Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,502,909	$ 1,269,934	$ 3,787,151	$ 3,314,057	$ 5,169,508
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	203,574	163,653	512,564	420,867	589,027
Total assets
Total assets	10,128,936		10,128,936		9,736,789
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	225,829	205,200	560,812	491,692
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,436	18,994	37,042	35,300
Total assets
Total assets	1,089,376		1,089,376		1,020,250
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	281,915	220,596	692,457	576,991
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	35,628	18,478	69,171	56,348
Total assets
Total assets	1,177,785		1,177,785		1,166,023
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	253,904	232,118	591,211	571,364
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	33,566	32,386	67,496	84,765
Total assets
Total assets	1,288,665		1,288,665		1,203,554
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	307,406	223,076	821,241	548,701
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,180	30,313	111,002	74,164
Total assets
Total assets	1,276,911		1,276,911		1,130,625
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	335,224	336,438	928,303	881,779
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	72,703	80,293	199,232	198,776
Total assets
Total assets	2,714,799		2,714,799		2,479,885
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,404,278	1,217,428	3,594,024	3,070,527
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	201,513	180,464	483,943	449,353
Total assets
Total assets	7,547,536		7,547,536		7,000,337
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	98,631	52,506	193,127	243,530
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	46,750	14,682	131,782	74,598
Total assets
Total assets	760,349		760,349		946,738
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(44,689)	$ (31,493)	(103,161)	$ (103,084)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,821,051		$ 1,821,051		$ 1,789,714