Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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
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
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									5,808,618	5,673,007	4,562,303
Selling, general and administrative									734,548	684,035	605,572
Income from operations									680,800	786,216	647,183
Other:
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities									24,868	85,240	116,066
Other income - net									81,502	62,460	51,062
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
Income tax provision									197,163	185,765	278,816
Net income	$ 202,315	$ 146,318	$ 129,324	$ 112,050	$ 310,976	$ 193,258	$ 111,810	$ 132,107	590,007	748,151	535,495
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(6,525)	2,926	1,426
Total comprehensive income									$ 583,482	$ 751,077	$ 536,921
Income per share:
Basic	$ 1.43	$ 1.01	$ 0.88	$ 0.76	$ 2.10	$ 1.28	$ 0.73	$ 0.85	$ 4.07	$ 4.92	$ 3.30
Diluted	$ 1.41	$ 1.00	$ 0.87	$ 0.76	$ 2.08	$ 1.26	$ 0.72	$ 0.83	$ 4.03	$ 4.85	$ 3.17
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic	141,909	144,750	146,622	146,751	148,066	151,257	152,731	155,882	145,008	151,984	162,222
Diluted	143,567	146,275	148,129	148,032	149,603	153,173	155,129	158,897	146,501	154,201	169,487
Home Building [Member]
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
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									5,678,914	5,673,007	4,562,303
Land [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	$ 86,956	$ 8,721	$ 4,037	$ 43,873					143,587	0	0
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									$ 129,704	$ 0	$ 0