Note 17 - Operating and Reporting Segments - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jul. 31, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021
Revenues, Total		$ 767,593	$ 690,683	$ 2,035,443	$ 1,968,509
Income (loss) before income taxes		111,927	61,799	228,273	112,416
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Revenues, Total		157	5	177	15
Income (loss) before income taxes	[1]	(28,985)	(31,232)	(106,646)	(128,933)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues, Total		753,060	670,838	1,991,895	1,907,439
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		752,903	670,833	1,991,718	1,907,424
Income (loss) before income taxes		137,169	84,424	323,353	213,232
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		76,032	35,255	151,517	97,488
Income (loss) before income taxes		20,179	6,765	31,052	16,427
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		168,135	106,419	396,750	311,564
Income (loss) before income taxes		37,756	15,907	82,441	38,618
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		61,410	60,659	173,175	183,895
Income (loss) before income taxes		2,023	3,358	4,303	11,070
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		71,542	68,854	200,359	195,545
Income (loss) before income taxes		15,263	2,682	36,185	9,540
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		266,374	213,127	692,766	620,848
Income (loss) before income taxes		42,725	28,523	99,370	78,848
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		109,410	186,519	377,151	498,084
Income (loss) before income taxes		19,223	27,189	70,002	58,729
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues, Total		14,533	19,845	43,548	61,070
Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues, Total		14,533	19,845	43,548	61,070
Income (loss) before income taxes		$ 3,743	$ 8,607	$ 11,566	$ 28,117

[1] Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative costs of $24.8 million, interest expense of $5.0 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), and $(0.8) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative costs of $75.9 million, interest expense of $25.5 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million, and $(1.6) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2021 included corporate general and administrative costs of $17.3 million, interest expense of $14.4 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), $0.3 million of loss on extinguishment of debt and $0.8 million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 included corporate general and administrative costs of $81.1 million, interest expense of $48.1 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), $0.3 million of loss on extinguishment of debt and $0.6 million of other income and expenses.