Supplemental Disclosure to Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$ 21,578	$ 12,131	$ 23,930
Income tax payment	119,852	185,084	205,412
Income tax refunds	2,776	4,451	16,965
Noncash activity:
Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	61,877	5,807	67,890
Financed portion of land sale	625		2,273
Reduction in inventory for our share of earnings in land purchased from unconsolidated entities and allocation of basis difference	11,760	9,012	9,188
Reclassification of deferred income from inventory to accrued liabilities	3,520	2,111
Reclassification of inventory to property, construction and office equipment	8,990	17,064
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized losses in defined benefit plans	(1,201)	1,699	(382)
Defined benefit retirement plan amendment		757	768
Deferred tax decrease related to stock-based compensation activity included in additional paid-in capital	5,232	11,363	2,325
Increase in accrued expenses related to stock-based compensation		6,240
Income tax (expense) benefit recognized in total comprehensive income	(880)	590	(200)
Transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities	72,757
Transfer of investment in unconsolidated entities to inventory	14,328		132,256
Transfer of other assets to investment in unconsolidated entities	1,308	24,967	4,852
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative held by equity investees			26
Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	130	29	1,843
Miscellaneous (decreases) increases to investments in unconsolidated entities	5,117	1,510	144
Acquisition of a Business:
Fair value of assets purchased, excluding cash acquired	88,465
Liabilities Assumed	5,377
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ 83,088