Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,549,072	$ 1,716,094	$ 2,880,503	$ 3,079,275
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	102,113	176,159	168,045	327,605
Total assets
Total assets	10,810,811		10,810,811		$ 10,828,138
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	296,023	345,090	550,082	616,608
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,996	7,287	19,527	22,358
Total assets
Total assets	1,540,813		1,540,813		1,487,012
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	192,900	174,089	355,376	308,987
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(155)	10,463	6,833	17,605
Total assets
Total assets	961,159		961,159		854,470
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	230,860	242,761	414,490	419,689
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	20,113	28,648	29,190	44,313
Total assets
Total assets	1,250,034		1,250,034		1,165,974
Mountain [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	337,504	285,809	600,600	512,208
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	33,199	27,377	50,784	52,980
Total assets
Total assets	1,979,579		1,979,579		1,769,649
Pacific [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	423,292	579,616	818,648	1,023,665
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	67,737	122,982	131,059	214,614
Total assets
Total assets	2,527,780		2,527,780		2,627,417
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,480,579	1,627,365	2,739,196	2,881,157
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	137,890	196,757	237,393	351,870
Total assets
Total assets	8,259,365		8,259,365		7,904,522
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	36,772	84,074	76,607	152,668
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	8,698	25,834	18,247	40,476
Total assets
Total assets	542,483		542,483		529,507
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	(1,117)	618	(2,232)	(2,460)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(44,475)	(46,432)	(87,595)	(64,741)
Total assets
Total assets	2,008,963		2,008,963		$ 2,394,109
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,516,234	1,712,057	2,813,571	3,031,365
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 32,838	$ 4,037	$ 66,932	$ 47,910