Receivables, Prepaid Expenses, and Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets [Abstract]
Expected recoveries from insurance carriers and others	$ 147,911	$ 153,774
Improvement cost receivable	100,490	99,311
Escrow cash held by our captive title company	37,847	45,923
Property held for rental apartment development	208,838	146,288
Prepaid expenses	20,375	23,223
Other	84,294	73,698
Receivables, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	$ 599,755	$ 542,217