Note 18 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Debt to capitalization ratio	32.00%
Our share of net income (loss)	$ 1,540	$ 9,562
Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	73,405		$ 110,723
Inventories	453,759		403,842
Other assets	25,538		25,129
Total assets	552,702		539,694
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	92,298		71,889
Notes payable	145,764		186,882
Total liabilities	238,062		258,771
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	135,158		125,638
Others	179,482		155,285
Total equity	314,640		280,923
Total liabilities and equity	$ 552,702		$ 539,694
Debt to capitalization ratio	32.00%		40.00%
Revenues	$ 90,704	96,779
Cost of sales and expenses	(93,504)	(90,283)
Joint venture net loss	(2,800)	6,496
Our share of net income (loss)	864	9,558
Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	71,647		$ 108,520
Inventories	450,493		397,804
Other assets	25,079		24,896
Total assets	547,219		531,220
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	91,851		71,297
Notes payable	145,764		186,882
Total liabilities	237,615		258,179
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	131,017		120,891
Others	178,587		152,150
Total equity	309,604		273,041
Total liabilities and equity	$ 547,219		$ 531,220
Debt to capitalization ratio	32.00%		41.00%
Revenues	$ 86,964	95,774
Cost of sales and expenses	(88,551)	(89,312)
Joint venture net loss	(1,587)	6,462
Our share of net income (loss)	1,470	9,541
Land Development Joint Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,758		$ 2,203
Inventories	3,266		6,038
Other assets	459		233
Total assets	5,483		8,474
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	447		592
Notes payable
Total liabilities	447		592
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	4,141		4,747
Others	895		3,135
Total equity	5,036		7,882
Total liabilities and equity	$ 5,483		$ 8,474
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.00%		0.00%
Revenues	$ 3,740	1,005
Cost of sales and expenses	(4,953)	(971)
Joint venture net loss	(1,213)	34
Our share of net income (loss)	$ (606)	$ 17