Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	$ 8,120	$ 5,126
Inventory	3,655,100		3,416,723
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	193,626		126,355
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0	20,000
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	777	(349)
Inventory	43,215		46,581
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	6,425	5,475
Inventory	2,543,138		2,390,997
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	918
Inventory	1,068,747		979,145
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	119,389		40,734
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	24	158
Inventory	11,462		19,390
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	2,265	1,275
Inventory	764,010		738,473
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	244,835		231,085
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	199	66
Inventory	22,045		21,592
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	682,497		659,081
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	473,981		455,818
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	30,746		32,000
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	555	306
Inventory	5,016		3,812
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	4,160
Inventory	551,990		539,582
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	918
Inventory	132,936		125,461
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	8,592		17,098
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities		20,000
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs	(1)	(879)
Inventory	4,692		1,787
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments and write-offs		4,200
Inventory	544,641		453,861
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	216,995		166,781
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	$ 34,899		$ 36,523