Note 23 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
ASSETS:
Assets	$ 1,893,728	$ 1,759,130	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	2,336,848	2,191,929	[1]
Notes payable	1,683,180	1,557,706	[1]
Income taxes payable (receivable)	2,711	3,301	[1]
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(443,120)	(433,226)	[1]
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures		427	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	1,893,728	1,759,130	[1]
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(14,202)
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	2,685	3,798
Homebuilding [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	133,018	277,800
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	73	491
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,335,404	1,020,435
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	514,778	437,767
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	341,047	312,042
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	55,722	64,329
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,795,267	1,610,277	[1]
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	62,294	51,438	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	573,258	506,385	[1]
Financial Services [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	8,937	14,570
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	8,837	14,789
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	89,524	134,283
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	68,862	109,748
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	98,461	148,853	[1]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Liability	77,699	124,537	[1]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(1,598,317)	(1,334,588)
Intercompany receivable	(1,364,433)	(1,108,395)
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(219,682)	(226,193)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Intercompany payable	(1,409,081)	(1,132,036)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(189,236)	(202,552)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,598,317)	(1,334,588)
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	(78,621)	(62,298)
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(78,621)	(62,298)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Intercompany payable	323,179	326,262
Income taxes payable (receivable)	38,635	40,868
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(443,120)	(433,226)
Total liabilities and equity	(78,621)	(62,298)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,436,200	1,373,981
Intercompany receivable	1,337,515	1,093,906
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	(34,333)	2,275
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	1,679,668	1,555,336
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(243,541)	(181,846)
Total liabilities and equity	1,436,200	1,373,981
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	1,676,977	1,321,221
Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries	332,636	286,216
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	3,243	2,276
Intercompany payable	1,085,902	805,774
Income taxes payable (receivable)	(35,924)	(37,567)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	100,141	98,182
Total liabilities and equity	1,676,977	1,321,221
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Assets	457,489	460,814
Intercompany receivable	26,918	14,489
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Notes payable	269	94
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	332,636	286,216
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures		427
Total liabilities and equity	$ 457,489	$ 460,814

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