Note 5 (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012		Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012
Number Of Communities Evaluated For Impairment	344				344
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	29				29
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment	$ 82,000,000				$ 82,000,000
Number Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20%	1				1
Percentage Undiscounted Cash Flow Exceeds Carrying Amount					20.00%
Impairment of Real Estate	900,000		2,100,000		1,500,000	[1]	5,200,000
Land Option Write-offs	1,300,000	[2]	1,100,000	[2]	1,400,000	[2]	1,300,000	[2]
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period					1
Number of Communities Mothballed	52				52
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities	125,200,000				125,200,000
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges	455,200,000				455,200,000
One Community [Member]
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20%	2,700,000				2,700,000
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate					2,000
Land Option Write-offs			2,000				8,000
Southeast [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate					17,000
Southwest [Member]
Land Option Write-offs			44,000				52,000
Residential Real Estate [Member]
	34,200,000				34,200,000
	33,600,000				33,600,000
Land [Member]
	71,900,000				71,900,000
	$ 57,500,000				$ 57,500,000
Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate					18.00%		16.80%
Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate					18.80%		18.50%

[1] During the six months ended April 30, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17 thousand.

[2] During the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 there were write-offs in the Mid-Atlantic totaling $2 thousand and $8 thousand, respectively. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 there were write-offs in the Southwest totaling $44 thousand and $52 thousand, respectively.