Value of loan applications in process with committed interest rates at the end of the period.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_InterestRateCommittedLoanApplications
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of loan applications in process at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LoanApplicationsInProcess
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Mortgage loans held for sale unpaid principal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LoansHeldForSaleMortgagesUnpaidPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hov_Note22FairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of days for which loans are committed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_NumberOfDaysInCommittment
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of notes payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in the taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=hov_InterestRateCommittedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LoanOriginationCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorAmortizingNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorExchangeableNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorSecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorSubordinatedAmortizingNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_The702019NotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_UnsecuredSeniorNotesExcludingSeniorAmortizingNotesAndSeniorExchangeableNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loans Held for Sale, Mortgages, Unpaid Principal	$ 91,200,000	$ 107,700,000
Other Commitment	20,000,000us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Impairment of Real Estate	1,200,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate	2,400,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate	9,800,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Loan Origination Commitments [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Days in Commitment	60 days
Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loan Applications in Process	428,500,000
Interest Rate Committed [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications	35,600,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	464,400,000	493,400,000
Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure		2,200,000
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	148,200,000
Senior Secured Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	17,000,000	20,900,000
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Note 22 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 79,600,000	$ 86,800,000