Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,716,094	$ 1,599,199	$ 3,079,275	$ 2,774,667
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	176,159	152,748	327,605	284,346
Total assets
Total assets	10,276,729		10,276,729		$ 10,244,590
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	221,896	226,214	391,397	360,494
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	7,226	1,657	17,962	2,036
Total assets
Total assets	968,396		968,396		970,854
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	255,692	254,907	461,388	461,865
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	7,580	20,444	18,952	34,344
Total assets
Total assets	1,202,321		1,202,321		1,130,417
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	284,352	240,714	492,499	412,206
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	31,595	27,130	47,363	39,278
Total assets
Total assets	1,289,163		1,289,163		1,237,744
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	364,884	349,388	665,314	607,421
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,808	48,049	87,422	78,653
Total assets
Total assets	1,782,581		1,782,581		1,580,199
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	500,541	438,342	870,559	725,446
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	106,552	85,661	180,173	146,518
Total assets
Total assets	2,697,809		2,697,809		2,733,956
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,627,365	1,509,565	2,881,157	2,567,432
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	196,761	182,941	351,872	300,829
Total assets
Total assets	7,940,270		7,940,270		7,653,170
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	84,074	89,634	152,668	207,235
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	25,834	16,685	40,476	46,649
Total assets
Total assets	502,406		502,406		516,238
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue	618	0	(2,460)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(46,436)	(46,878)	(64,743)	(63,132)
Total assets
Total assets	1,834,053		1,834,053		$ 2,075,182
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,712,057	1,599,199	3,031,365	2,774,667
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 4,037	$ 0	$ 47,910	$ 0