Note 4 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment			393	374
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 0	$ 1,200	$ 0	$ 2,000
Number of Walk Away Lots	1,892	851	3,025	1,420
Number of Previously Mothballed Community Re-activated	4		4
Homebuilding [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate		$ 1,200	$ 0	$ 2,000
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations				3
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment				$ 11,500
Number of Communities Impaired		2		3
Land Option Write Offs	$ 1,100	$ 100	$ 1,800	$ 1,300
Number of Communities Mothballed	2		2		6
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities	$ 1,400		$ 1,400		$ 4,300
Inventory Real Estate Mothballed Communities Accumulated Impairment Charges	20,300		20,300		57,500
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	178,454		178,454		62,762
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	43,800		43,800		32,500
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	47,200		47,200		31,500
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Inventory Real Estate, Other Options	237,100		237,100		66,200
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	$ 131,300		$ 131,300		$ 31,300
Homebuilding [Member] | Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Inventory, Measurement Input				0.183
Homebuilding [Member] | Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Inventory, Measurement Input				0.193