Note 3 - Interest (Details) - Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Interest (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014		Jul. 31, 2013		Jul. 31, 2014		Jul. 31, 2013
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Other interest expensed	$ 19,880	[1],[2]	$ 21,949	[1],[2]	$ 66,685	[1],[2]	$ 68,581	[1],[2]
Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries	379		731		1,524		2,239
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest	5,245		5,018		1,234		(4,802)
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest	$ 25,504		$ 27,698		$ 69,443		$ 66,018

[1] Other interest expensed consists of interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt. Interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, is expensed.

[2] Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest, which is calculated as follows: