Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				36 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013		Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Number Of Communities Evaluated For Impairment	396	388			396
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	12	33			12
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment (in Dollars)	28,200,000	85,000,000			28,200,000
Number Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20%	4	4			4
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment For Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount By Less Than 20% (in Dollars)	23,100,000	4,500,000			23,100,000
Percentage Undiscounted Cash Flow Exceeds Carrying Amount	20.00%	20.00%
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,200,000	2,400,000		9,800,000
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	4,000,000	2,600,000		2,700,000
Fourth Quarter [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	4	8			4
Carrying Value Of Communities Tested For Impairment (in Dollars)	7,100,000	21,800,000			7,100,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	16.80%	18.00%		16.80%	16.80%
Homebuilding [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.30%	19.30%		18.50%	19.30%
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	0	2,000	[1]	400,000
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	200,000	100,000		600,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	0	17,000	[1]	2,800,000
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	700,000	200,000		700,000
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 13 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,200,000	2,400,000	[1]	9,800,000
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	4,000,000	2,600,000		2,700,000

[1] During the year ended October 31, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairmenttotaling $17 thousand.