Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2022	Jan. 31, 2022	Apr. 30, 2021	Apr. 30, 2022	Apr. 30, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021
Revenues
Revenues	$ 2,277,541		$ 1,930,124	$ 4,068,622	$ 3,493,500
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	295,815		169,826	496,631	297,231
Total assets
Total assets	11,544,611			11,544,611		$ 11,537,850
Inventory Write-down	2,192		1,581	4,425	2,847
Proceeds from sale of golf club property				0	80,418
Gain on disposition of assets				0	38,706
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	(2,032)		(1,312)	(3,459)	(1,043)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(63,418)		(70,356)	(98,360)	(118,388)
Total assets
Total assets	1,775,175			1,775,175		2,876,730
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	2,170,559		1,779,587	3,819,566	3,182,229
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	359,497		227,702	582,538	370,447
Total assets
Total assets	9,452,438			9,452,438		8,328,148
Inventory Write-down	2,192		1,581	3,225	1,747
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	18,002		57,985	57,774	65,778
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(264)		12,480	12,453	45,172
Total assets
Total assets	316,998			316,998		332,972
Inventory Write-down	0		0	1,200	1,100
North [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	380,905		390,665	696,267	703,304
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	50,729		39,220	82,269	58,102
Total assets
Total assets	1,439,036			1,439,036		1,357,168
Inventory Write-down	443		31	769	65
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	268,250		218,291	511,127	382,275
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,807		23,967	77,231	42,780
Total assets
Total assets	1,065,594			1,065,594		976,887
Inventory Write-down	706		59	1,145	90
South [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	326,351		280,176	569,870	497,060
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	42,979		38,268	65,511	59,751
Total assets
Total assets	1,867,816			1,867,816		1,421,612
Inventory Write-down	466		419	609	444
Mountain [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	653,558		431,850	1,115,858	809,827
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	104,962		52,080	175,973	88,093
Total assets
Total assets	2,748,850			2,748,850		2,397,484
Inventory Write-down	342		11	444	20
Pacific [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	541,495		458,605	926,444	789,763
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	117,020		74,167	181,554	121,721
Total assets
Total assets	2,331,142			2,331,142		$ 2,174,997
Inventory Write-down	235		1,061	258	1,128
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	2,186,529		1,836,260	3,873,881	3,246,964
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 91,012		$ 93,864	$ 194,741	$ 246,536
Land [Member] | City Living [Member]
Total assets
Proceeds from sale of golf club property		$ 82,400
Gain on disposition of assets		$ 38,300