Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	$ 272,649	$ 186,916	$ 176,159	$ 151,446	$ 396,473	$ 253,097	$ 152,748	$ 131,598	$ 787,170	$ 933,916	$ 814,311
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax					2,455,238	$ 1,913,353	$ 1,599,199	$ 1,175,468	7,223,966	7,143,258	5,815,058
Total assets
Total assets	10,828,138				10,244,590				10,828,138	10,244,590
North [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									55,897	56,530	50,393
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									923,299	975,648	775,540
Total assets
Total assets	917,506				970,854				917,506	970,854
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									64,739	90,573	105,740
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,112,817	1,141,130	1,030,269
Total assets
Total assets	1,177,387				1,130,417				1,177,387	1,130,417
South [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									117,533	110,304	112,809
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,244,571	1,045,395	923,953
Total assets
Total assets	1,412,563				1,237,744				1,412,563	1,237,744
West [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									170,389	213,269	153,188
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,418,041	1,451,353	1,151,697
Total assets
Total assets	2,057,389				1,580,199				2,057,389	1,580,199
California [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									452,350	494,247	345,138
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									2,129,461	2,208,733	1,550,494
Total assets
Total assets	2,339,677				2,733,956				2,339,677	2,733,956
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									860,908	964,923	767,268
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									6,828,189	6,822,259	5,431,953
Total assets
Total assets	7,904,522				7,653,170				7,904,522	7,653,170
City Living [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									70,133	78,149	193,852
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									253,189	320,999	383,105
Total assets
Total assets	529,507				516,238				529,507	516,238
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									(143,871)	(109,156)	(146,809)
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									(999)
Total assets
Total assets	2,394,109				$ 2,075,182				2,394,109	2,075,182
Home Building [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	2,292,044	1,756,970	1,712,057	1,319,308					7,080,379	7,143,258	5,815,058
Land [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	$ 86,956	$ 8,721	$ 4,037	$ 43,873					$ 143,587	$ 0	$ 0