Note 21 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 540,613	$ 551,009	$ 1,455,276	$ 1,364,986
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	550,166	535,848	1,516,908	1,383,496
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(1,155)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(448)	211	2,470	3,849
(Loss) income before income taxes	(10,001)	15,372	(59,162)	(15,816)
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	(2,317)	(1,733)	(17,543)	(496)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries		0
Net (loss) income	(7,684)	17,105	(41,619)	(15,320)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Homebuilding revenue	526,253	539,903	1,417,337	1,336,374
Total revenues	526,284	539,953	1,417,443	1,336,499
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	541,922	528,636	1,493,839	1,362,905
(Loss) income before income taxes	16,524	43,910	31,132	77,746
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Financial services	14,360	11,106	37,939	28,612
Total revenues	14,360	11,106	37,939	28,612
Expenses:
(Loss) income before income taxes	6,116	3,894	14,870	8,021
Revenues:
Financial services	8,244	7,212	23,069	20,591
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	2,432	3,104	9,313	9,038
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,432)	(3,104)	(9,313)	(9,038)
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	224	(4,213)	(17,968)	(10,041)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(5,028)	15,996	(50,274)	(16,323)
Net (loss) income	(7,684)	17,105	(41,619)	(15,320)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	2,416	3,098	9,209	9,023
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Financial services	16	6	104	15
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Revenues:
Intercompany charges	31,246	26,411	91,631	72,966
Total revenues	31,246	26,359	91,631	72,837
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	38,284	32,751	114,499	96,769
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(1,155)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(7,038)	(6,392)	(22,868)	(25,087)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	(13,855)	(12,584)	(40,219)	(36,608)
Net (loss) income	(20,893)	(18,976)	(63,087)	(61,695)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Homebuilding revenue		(52)		(129)
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	38,284	32,751	114,499	96,769
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Intercompany charges		(28,110)		(76,391)
Total revenues	448,727	410,371	1,208,582	1,015,351
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	464,744	408,178	1,278,238	1,050,337
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	12	10	(2)	70
(Loss) income before income taxes	(16,005)	2,203	(69,658)	(34,916)
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision	(2,541)	2,480	425	9,545
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	15,474	20,338	42,677	46,420
Net (loss) income	2,010	20,061	(27,406)	1,959
Revenues:
Intercompany charges	31,310		91,631
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Homebuilding revenue	446,581	436,085	1,202,668	1,085,275
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	431,816	406,479	1,181,860	1,045,419
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Financial services	2,146	2,396	5,914	6,467
Revenues:
Financial services	1,618	1,699	4,747	4,918
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Intercompany charges	64	(42)		(42)
Total revenues	91,950	112,538	246,694	273,331
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	76,016	92,401	206,489	230,690
(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(460)	201	2,472	3,779
(Loss) income before income taxes	15,474	20,338	42,677	46,420
Net (loss) income	15,474	20,338	42,677	46,420
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Homebuilding revenue	79,672	103,870	214,669	251,228
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	69,406	86,894	188,271	215,032
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Financial services	12,214	8,710	32,025	22,145
Revenues:
Financial services	6,610	5,507	18,218	15,658
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Intercompany charges	(31,310)	1,741	(91,631)	3,467
Total revenues	(31,310)	1,741	(91,631)	3,467
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense	(31,310)	(586)	(91,631)	(3,338)
(Loss) income before income taxes		2,327		6,805
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries	3,409	(23,750)	47,816	6,511
Net (loss) income	3,409	(21,423)	47,816	13,316
Revenues:
Intercompany charges	$ (31,310)		$ (91,631)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Expenses:
Homebuilding Expense		$ (586)		$ (3,338)