Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment	397	387
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	1
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 0	$ 0
Homebuilding [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate	100	0
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment	6,300
Land Option Write Offs	$ 700	$ 400
Number of Walk Away Lots	1,490	627
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period	0
Number of Previously Mothballed Communities Sold During the Period	2
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated	2
Number of Communities Mothballed	14		18
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities	$ 14,100		$ 24,500
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities Accumulated Impairment Charges	146,900		186,100
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	82,105		63,387
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	58,500		50,500
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	51,400		43,900
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	54,100		37,400
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 30,700		$ 19,500