Other Income - Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Other Nonoperating Income By Component [Line Items]
Interest income	$ 4,338		$ 1,212	$ 10,210	$ 3,292
Income from Ancillary Businesses	4,242		4,873	18,086	7,456
Management fee income from home building unconsolidated entities, net	1,716,094		1,599,199	3,079,275	2,774,667
Retained customer deposits			3,071		4,155
Income from land sales			2,587		3,287
Other	(414)		(303)	(877)	(824)
Total other income - net	11,285		15,794	32,146	24,791
Revenues and expenses of non-core ancillary businesses
Revenue	32,846		33,911	65,129	65,234
Expense	29,749		29,038	60,374	57,778
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	1,145	$ 12,200		13,331
Land sales prior [Member]
Other Nonoperating Income By Component [Line Items]
Management fee income from home building unconsolidated entities, net			34,384		41,352
Income from land sales			2,587		3,287
Management Fee [Member]
Other Nonoperating Income By Component [Line Items]
Management fee income from home building unconsolidated entities, net	$ 3,119		$ 4,354	$ 4,727	$ 7,425