Note 23 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 551,009	$ 478,357	$ 1,364,986	$ 1,259,566
Total expenses	535,848	471,659	1,383,496	1,278,051
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt			(1,155)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	211	3,690	3,849	6,806
(Loss) income before income taxes	15,372	10,388	(15,816)	(11,679)
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	(1,733)	1,922	(496)	(10,155)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	17,105	8,466	(15,320)	(1,524)
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue		(1,246)		(3,741)
Total expenses	(586)	2,141	(3,338)	4,554
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue				3
Total expenses	3,098	3,177	9,023	5,921
Homebuilding [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	(52)	(76)	(129)	(175)
Total expenses	32,751	30,389	96,769	90,088
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	436,085	372,416	1,085,275	1,033,927
Total expenses	406,479	351,903	1,045,419	994,979
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	103,870	94,385	251,228	194,333
Total expenses	86,894	77,409	215,032	161,304
Homebuilding [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	539,903	465,479	1,336,374	1,224,347
Total expenses	528,636	465,019	1,362,905	1,256,846
Financial Services [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Financial services	6	4	15	13
Financial Services [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Financial services	2,396	3,080	6,467	7,743
Financial services	1,699	2,052	4,918	5,742
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Financial services	8,710	9,798	22,145	27,476
Financial services	5,507	4,584	15,658	15,450
Financial Services [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Financial services	11,106	12,878	28,612	35,219
Total revenues	11,106	12,878	28,612	35,219
(Loss) income before income taxes	3,894	6,238	8,021	14,014
Financial services	7,212	6,640	20,591	21,205
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany charges	1,741	4,208	3,467	15,886
Total revenues	1,741	2,962	3,467	12,145
Total expenses	(586)	2,141	(3,338)	4,554
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
(Loss) income before income taxes	2,327	821	6,805	7,591
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(23,750)	(24,336)	6,511	727
Net (loss) income	(21,423)	(23,515)	13,316	8,318
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues				3
Total expenses	3,104	3,181	9,038	5,934
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
(Loss) income before income taxes	(3,104)	(3,181)	(9,038)	(5,931)
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	(4,213)	(2,233)	(10,041)	(19,308)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	15,996	9,414	(16,323)	(14,901)
Net (loss) income	17,105	8,466	(15,320)	(1,524)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany charges	26,411	20,760	72,966	61,167
Total revenues	26,359	20,684	72,837	60,992
Total expenses	32,751	30,389	96,769	90,088
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt			(1,155)	(770,009)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
(Loss) income before income taxes	(6,392)	(9,705)	(25,087)	(799,105)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(12,584)	(10,887)	(36,608)	(33,606)
Net (loss) income	(18,976)	(20,592)	(61,695)	(832,711)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany charges	(28,110)	(24,931)	(76,391)	(75,265)
Total revenues	410,371	350,565	1,015,351	966,405
Total expenses	408,178	353,955	1,050,337	1,000,721
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt				770,009
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	10	34	70	2,293
(Loss) income before income taxes	2,203	(3,356)	(34,916)	737,986
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	2,480	4,155	9,545	9,153
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	20,338	25,809	46,420	47,780
Net (loss) income	20,061	18,298	1,959	776,613
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany charges	(42)	(37)	(42)	(1,788)
Total revenues	112,538	104,146	273,331	220,021
Total expenses	92,401	81,993	230,690	176,754
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	201	3,656	3,779	4,513
(Loss) income before income taxes	20,338	25,809	46,420	47,780
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$ 20,338	$ 25,809	$ 46,420	$ 47,780