Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (USD $)	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash	$ 183,721,000	$ 329,204,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	25,900,000	31,900,000
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Total assets	1,893,728,000	1,759,130,000	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities from inventory not owned	3,700,000
Notes payable:
Accrued interest	27,027,000	28,261,000	[1]
Total notes payable	1,683,180,000	1,557,706,000	[1]
Income taxes payable	2,711,000	3,301,000	[1]
Total liabilities	2,336,848,000	2,191,929,000	[1]
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value – authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at July 31, 2014 and at October 31, 2013	135,299,000	135,299,000	[1]
Paid-in capital – common stock	695,086,000	689,727,000	[1]
Accumulated deficit	(1,159,728,000)	(1,144,408,000)	[1]
Treasury stock – at cost	(115,360,000)	(115,360,000)	[1]
Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit	(443,120,000)	(433,226,000)	[1]
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures		427,000	[1]
Total equity deficit	(443,120,000)	(432,799,000)	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	1,893,728,000	1,759,130,000	[1]
Common Class A [Member]
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit:
Common stock	1,428,000	1,363,000	[1]
Common Class B [Member]
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit:
Common stock	155,000	153,000	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Secured debt	98,338,000	62,903,000	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Operating Properties [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Secured debt	16,904,000	17,733,000	[1]
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash	176,639,000	319,142,000	[1]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,596,000	10,286,000	[1]
Inventories:
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	981,529,000	752,749,000	[1]
Land and land options held for future development or sale	268,396,000	225,152,000	[1]
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Specific performance options	3,900,000	792,000	[1]
Other options	122,332,000	100,071,000	[1]
Total consolidated inventory not owned	126,232,000	100,863,000	[1]
Total inventories	1,376,157,000	1,078,764,000	[1]
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	62,294,000	51,438,000	[1]
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	56,232,000	45,085,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,960,000	46,211,000	[1]
Prepaid expenses and other assets	65,389,000	59,351,000	[1]
Total assets	1,795,267,000	1,610,277,000	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities from inventory not owned	102,096,000	87,866,000	[1]
Notes payable:
Total liabilities	573,258,000	506,385,000	[1]
Accounts payable and other liabilities	315,779,000	307,764,000	[1]
Customers’ deposits	40,141,000	30,119,000	[1]
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash	7,082,000	10,062,000	[1]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	13,272,000	21,557,000	[1]
Mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	76,173,000	112,953,000	[1]
Other assets	1,934,000	4,281,000	[1]
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Total assets	98,461,000	148,853,000	[1]
Notes payable:
Total liabilities	77,699,000	124,537,000	[1]
Accounts payable and other liabilities	23,736,000	32,874,000	[1]
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	53,963,000	91,663,000	[1]
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	979,599,000	978,611,000	[1]
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	590,290,000	461,210,000	[1]
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	17,049,000	20,857,000	[1]
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	69,215,000	66,615,000	[1]
Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	$ 0	$ 2,152,000	[1]

[1] Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2013.