Fair Value Disclosures (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Book value and estimated fair value of the Company's debt
Loans payable	$ 104,512	$ 94,491
Senior notes	1,500,494	1,544,110
Mortgage company warehouse loan	39,905	72,367
Fair Value Disclosures (Textuals) [Abstract]
Marketable securities debt maturity date range low	1
Marketable securities debt maturity date range high	15
Book value [Member]
Book value and estimated fair value of the Company's debt
Loans payable	104,512	94,491
Senior notes	1,509,371	1,554,460
Mortgage company warehouse loan	39,905	72,367
Total debt	1,653,788	1,721,318
Estimate fair value [Member]
Book value and estimated fair value of the Company's debt
Loans payable	96,519	87,751
Senior notes	1,625,363	1,679,052
Mortgage company warehouse loan	39,905	72,367
Total debt	$ 1,761,787	$ 1,839,170

Book value and estimated fair value of the Company's debt.

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Fair Value Disclosures.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate estimated fair value as of the balance sheet date of loans payable.

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Marketable securities debt maturity date range low.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Article 9

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the outstanding short-term borrowings under a revolving line of credit used by mortgage bankers to finance the origination or purchase of loans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 9

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