Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment	383	397
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	1
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment	$ 600
Impairment of Real Estate	0	$ 100
Homebuilding [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate	0	$ 100
Number of Communities Impaired		1
PreImpairment Value		$ 6,300
Land Option Write Offs	$ 2,800	$ 700
Number of Walk Away Lots	1,285	1,490
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period	0
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated	1
Number of Communities Mothballed	13	13
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities	$ 13,800	$ 13,800
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities Accumulated Impairment Charges	138,100	$ 138,100
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	152,235		$ 141,033
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	48,500		54,200
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	46,300		51,200
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	156,700		136,100
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 105,900		$ 89,800
Homebuilding [Member] | Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member]
Inventory, Measurement Input		0