Note 5 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014 Lots [Member] Homebuilding [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Model Homes [Member] Homebuilding [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Land Parcels [Member] Homebuilding [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Real Estate Inventory [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Real Estate Inventory [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Mid-Atlantic [Member]		Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Mid-Atlantic [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Mid-Atlantic [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Mid-Atlantic [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Southeast [Member]		Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Southeast [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Southeast [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Southeast [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Midwest [Member]		Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Midwest [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member] Midwest [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Midwest [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member]		Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member]		Jul. 31, 2014 Homebuilding [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member]		Oct. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member]		Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Minimum [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Real Estate Inventory [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Homebuilding [Member] Maximum [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 5 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate								16.80%	0.00%																															18.00%	18.80%
Number Of Communities Evaluated For Impairment	492		492
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	9		9
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment	$ 24,500,000		$ 24,500,000
Number Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20%	4		4
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20%	23,100,000		23,100,000
Percentage Undiscounted Cash Flow Exceeds Carrying Amount			20.00%
Impairment of Real Estate	100,000	100,000	200,000	1,600,000											2,000	[1]						17,000	[1]	100,000				100,000		[1]	100,000		100,000		200,000	1,600,000	[1]
Land Option Write-offs	600,000	500,000	1,700,000	1,900,000						100,000	[2]		[1],[2]	200,000	23,000	[1],[2]	200,000	[2]	100,000	[1],[2]	500,000	200,000	[1],[2]	100,000	[2]	38,000	[1],[2]	200,000	38,000	[1],[2]	600,000	[2]	500,000	[1],[2]	1,700,000	1,900,000	[1],[2]
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period			0
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated			2
Number of Mothball Communities Sold			2
Number of Communities Mothballed	46		46
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities	104,100,000		104,100,000
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges	413,700,000		413,700,000
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options					3,900,000																										3,900,000				3,900,000			792,000	[3]
Liabilities From Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	3,700,000		3,700,000			69,500,000	28,900,000																								102,096,000				102,096,000			87,866,000	[3]
Inventory Real Estate Other Options						$ 74,500,000	$ 47,800,000																								$ 122,332,000				$ 122,332,000			$ 100,071,000	[3]

[1] During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17 thousand.

[2] Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the applicable period's impairments.

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