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		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2022	Jan. 31, 2022	Oct. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021	Jan. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Assets	$ 2,537,504		$ 2,537,504				$ 2,320,508
Liabilities	2,198,757		2,198,757				2,145,124
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	338,427		338,427				174,897
Others	320		320				487
Total equity	338,747	$ 120,691	338,747	$ 120,691	$ 258,399	$ 196,887	175,384	$ 72,714	$ (416,335)	$ (436,094)
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,537,504		$ 2,537,504				2,320,508
Debt to capitalization ratio	27.00%		27.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 767,593	690,683	$ 2,035,443	1,968,509
Joint venture net income (loss)	82,614	47,702	169,857	555,337
Our share of net income (loss)	12,557	5,011	23,919	9,568
Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	143,162		143,162				134,935
Inventories	459,356		459,356				442,347
Other assets	28,809		28,809				34,551
Assets	631,327		631,327				611,833
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	466,463		466,463				387,798
Notes payable	44,380		44,380				73,994
Liabilities	510,843		510,843				461,792
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	72,948		72,948				58,714
Others	47,536		47,536				91,327
Total equity	120,484		120,484				150,041
Total liabilities and equity	$ 631,327		$ 631,327				$ 611,833
Debt to capitalization ratio	27.00%		27.00%				33.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 80,745	102,576	$ 237,845	266,257
Cost of sales and expenses	(74,306)	(96,653)	(218,205)	(255,799)
Joint venture net income (loss)	6,439	5,923	19,640	10,458
Our share of net income (loss)	12,557	5,012	23,919	9,768
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of net income (loss)	12,570	5,012	23,887	9,560
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of net income (loss)	(13)	0	32	208
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	142,058		142,058				$ 132,963
Inventories	459,356		459,356				442,347
Other assets	28,809		28,809				34,551
Assets	630,223		630,223				609,861
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	465,579		465,579				386,117
Notes payable	44,380		44,380				73,994
Liabilities	509,959		509,959				460,111
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	72,737		72,737				58,460
Others	47,527		47,527				91,290
Total equity	120,264		120,264				149,750
Total liabilities and equity	$ 630,223		$ 630,223				$ 609,861
Debt to capitalization ratio	27.00%		27.00%				33.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 80,745	102,576	$ 237,732	265,566
Cost of sales and expenses	(74,303)	(96,622)	(218,171)	(255,591)
Joint venture net income (loss)	6,442	5,954	19,561	9,975
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,104		1,104				$ 1,972
Inventories	0		0				0
Other assets	0		0				0
Assets	1,104		1,104				1,972
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	884		884				1,681
Notes payable	0		0				0
Liabilities	884		884				1,681
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	211		211				254
Others	9		9				37
Total equity	220		220				291
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,104		$ 1,104				$ 1,972
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.00%		0.00%				0.00%
Revenues, Total	$ 0	0	$ 113	691
Cost of sales and expenses	(3)	(31)	(34)	(208)
Joint venture net income (loss)	$ (3)	$ (31)	$ 79	$ 483