Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,765,691	$ 1,913,353	$ 4,844,966	$ 4,688,020
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	186,916	253,097	514,521	537,443
Total assets
Total assets	10,452,117		10,452,117		$ 10,244,590
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	210,919	266,226	602,316	626,719
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,148	21,240	34,111	23,276
Total assets
Total assets	984,670		984,670		970,854
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	287,695	304,060	749,083	765,925
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,216	20,614	35,167	54,958
Total assets
Total assets	1,233,622		1,233,622		1,130,417
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	318,530	299,259	811,029	711,466
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	29,127	34,729	76,491	74,006
Total assets
Total assets	1,371,325		1,371,325		1,237,744
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	353,886	382,455	1,019,200	989,877
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	41,399	60,120	128,820	138,773
Total assets
Total assets	1,905,091		1,905,091		1,580,199
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	512,299	610,737	1,382,858	1,336,183
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	112,591	140,278	292,764	286,797
Total assets
Total assets	2,615,005		2,615,005		2,733,956
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,683,329	1,862,737	4,564,486	4,430,170
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	215,481	276,981	567,353	577,810
Total assets
Total assets	8,109,713		8,109,713		7,653,170
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	71,892	50,616	224,560	257,850
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	19,185	13,617	59,660	60,266
Total assets
Total assets	494,046		494,046		516,238
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue	1,749		(711)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(47,750)	(37,501)	(112,492)	(100,633)
Total assets
Total assets	1,848,358		1,848,358		$ 2,075,182
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,756,970	1,913,353	4,788,335	4,688,020
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 8,721	$ 0	$ 56,631	$ 0