Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Impairment Charges	$ 0	$ 0
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	321,851,000		330,617,000
Funding Commitments	91,894,000
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture	7,614,000	71,784,000
Aggregate exposure with respect to its estimated obligations	2,164,000		2,135,000
variable interest entity, number of entities, not primary beneficiary	2
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	37,534,000		37,343,000
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
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture
Development Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	106,368,000		116,452,000
Funding Commitments	13,500,000
Baker Ranch [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Funding Commitments	10,000,000
Aggregate Loan Commitments	80,000,000.00
Borrowed against Loan Commitments	50,700,000
Percentage ownership held by company	50.00%
unimproved lots controlled by JV	2,000
Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	143,400,000
Funding Commitments	70,100,000
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	11,900,000
Condominium joint venture (three) [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	9,800,000
Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	31,600,000
Funding Commitments	8,300,000
Trust I [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	0
Owned by Third Party	33.30%
Percentage ownership held by company	33.30%
Percent owned by Company's Management	33.30%
Development finance and management services recognized during period	600,000	500,000
Trust II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$ 3,000,000
Owned by Third Party	50.00%
Percentage ownership held by company	50.00%
Phase one [Member] | Baker Ranch [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of lots to be acquired from joint venture	266
Future phases [Member] | Baker Ranch [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of lots to be acquired from joint venture	545