Note 17 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Debt to capitalization ratio	42.00%		42.00%
Our share of net income (loss)	$ 3,742	$ 10,732	$ 20,556	$ 6,899
Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	96,098		96,098		$ 52,285
Inventories	459,419		459,419		514,654
Other assets	25,711		25,711		35,105
Total assets	581,228		581,228		602,044
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	80,803		80,803		79,854
Notes payable	209,653		209,653		236,665
Total liabilities	290,456		290,456		316,519
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	130,222		130,222		119,319
Others	160,550		160,550		166,206
Total equity	290,772		290,772		285,525
Total liabilities and equity	$ 581,228		$ 581,228		$ 602,044
Debt to capitalization ratio	42.00%		42.00%		45.00%
Revenues	$ 122,539	195,906	$ 347,648	355,020
Cost of sales and expenses	(113,595)	(174,130)	(324,043)	(351,777)
Joint venture net income (loss)	8,944	21,776	23,605	3,243
Our share of net income (loss)	3,846	10,860	20,710	7,125
Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	93,959		93,959		$ 50,010
Inventories	450,628		450,628		506,650
Other assets	25,711		25,711		35,105
Total assets	570,298		570,298		591,765
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	79,941		79,941		79,108
Notes payable	209,653		209,653		236,665
Total liabilities	289,594		289,594		315,773
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	125,346		125,346		114,950
Others	155,358		155,358		161,042
Total equity	280,704		280,704		275,992
Total liabilities and equity	$ 570,298		$ 570,298		$ 591,765
Debt to capitalization ratio	43.00%		43.00%		46.00%
Revenues	$ 121,156	194,539	$ 342,669	350,035
Cost of sales and expenses	(112,749)	(173,073)	(320,080)	(347,439)
Joint venture net income (loss)	8,407	21,466	22,589	2,596
Our share of net income (loss)	3,578	10,705	20,202	6,802
Land Development Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,139		2,139		$ 2,275
Inventories	8,791		8,791		8,004
Other assets
Total assets	10,930		10,930		10,279
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	862		862		746
Notes payable
Total liabilities	862		862		746
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	4,876		4,876		4,369
Others	5,192		5,192		5,164
Total equity	10,068		10,068		9,533
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,930		$ 10,930		$ 10,279
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.00%		0.00%		0.00%
Revenues	$ 1,383	1,367	$ 4,979	4,985
Cost of sales and expenses	(846)	(1,057)	(3,963)	(4,338)
Joint venture net income (loss)	537	310	1,016	647
Our share of net income (loss)	$ 268	$ 155	$ 508	$ 323