Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Development Joint Venture (two) [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Baker Ranch [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Other Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Trust I [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Trust I [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Trust I [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Trust I [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Trust II [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Phase one [Member] Baker Ranch [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Future phases [Member] Baker Ranch [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in joint ventures	$ 357,532,000		$ 330,617,000	$ 33,151,000	$ 37,343,000				$ 124,317,000	$ 116,452,000	$ 15,800,000		$ 166,200,000	$ 17,700,000	$ 30,400,000	$ 200,000		$ 200,000		$ 3,300,000
Total joint venture loan commitments subject to guarantees	225,000,000
Funding Commitments	126,800,000								30,300,000		16,800,000	10,000,000	88,200,000	16,700,000	8,300,000
Number of floors in apartment building														38
Number of development joint venture with funding commitments	0
Aggregate Loan Commitments											25,000,000	80,000,000.00		120,000,000
Maximum amount of line of credit commitment											40,000,000
Borrowed against Loan Commitments	49,400,000										20,000,000	29,400,000		0
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	225,000,000
Owned by Third Party																		33.30%		50.00%
Percentage ownership held by company											50.00%	50.00%		50.00%				33.30%		50.00%
Noncash contribution to joint venture														28,800,000
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	34,686,000	20,568,000												10,200,000
Venture payment to align capital accounts														1,150,000
Contribution of cash to joint venture											15,500,000
unimproved lots controlled by JV											2,900	2,000
Percent owned by Company's Management																		33.30%
Number of lots to be acquired from joint venture																					266	545
Development finance and management services recognized during period																500,000	600,000	1,100,000	1,100,000
Joint Venture Description				is a 20% participant with two unrelated parties that purchased a 40% interest in an entity that owns and controls a portfolio of loans and real estate
variable interest entity, number of entities, not primary beneficiary	2
Maxiumum guarantor obigation for borrowings by JVs	49,400,000
Ground lease and other, guarantee	11,887,000
Number of JVs, ground lease and other	2
Guarantees, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 1,291,000