Note 18 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Equity of:
Debt to capitalization ratio	31.00%		31.00%
Our share of net income	$ (448)	$ 211	$ 2,470	$ 3,849
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,159		21,159		$ 22,620
Inventories	335,991		335,991		224,814
Other assets	9,388		9,388		11,986
Total assets	366,538		366,538		259,420
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	29,205		29,205		28,214
Notes payable	106,115		106,115		51,156
Total liabilities	135,320		135,320		79,370
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	66,440		66,440		62,096
Others	164,778		164,778		117,954
Total equity	231,218		231,218		180,050
Total liabilities and equity	$ 366,538		$ 366,538		$ 259,420
Debt to capitalization ratio	31.00%		31.00%		22.00%
Revenues	$ 28,853	29,895	$ 95,309	120,185
Cost of sales and expenses	(31,001)	(28,165)	(57,924)	(111,028)
Joint venture net income	(2,148)	1,730	37,385	9,157
Our share of net income	(439)	240	681	3,911
Homebuilding Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	20,420		20,420		$ 22,415
Inventories	322,448		322,448		208,620
Other assets	9,388		9,388		11,986
Total assets	352,256		352,256		243,021
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	28,601		28,601		27,175
Notes payable	101,522		101,522		45,506
Total liabilities	130,123		130,123		72,681
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	63,497		63,497		59,106
Others	158,636		158,636		111,234
Total equity	222,133		222,133		170,340
Total liabilities and equity	$ 352,256		$ 352,256		$ 243,021
Debt to capitalization ratio	31.00%		31.00%		21.00%
Revenues	$ 27,459	29,283	$ 91,300	114,304
Cost of sales and expenses	(29,705)	(27,631)	(53,821)	(105,409)
Joint venture net income	(2,246)	1,652	37,479	8,895
Our share of net income	(488)	201	728	3,780
Land Development Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	739		739		$ 205
Inventories	13,543		13,543		16,194
Total assets	14,282		14,282		16,399
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	604		604		1,039
Notes payable	4,593		4,593		5,650
Total liabilities	5,197		5,197		6,689
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	2,943		2,943		2,990
Others	6,142		6,142		6,720
Total equity	9,085		9,085		9,710
Total liabilities and equity	$ 14,282		$ 14,282		$ 16,399
Debt to capitalization ratio	34.00%		34.00%		37.00%
Revenues	$ 1,394	612	$ 4,009	5,881
Cost of sales and expenses	(1,296)	(534)	(4,103)	(5,619)
Joint venture net income	98	78	(94)	262
Our share of net income	$ 49	$ 39	$ (47)	$ 131