Geographic Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Revenues
Revenues	$ 424,601	$ 321,955
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,326	(6,408)
Total assets
Total assets	6,118,251		6,181,044
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	92,670	75,580
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	7,242	1,201
Total assets
Total assets	1,430,831		1,205,900
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	132,151	100,799
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	15,095	10,642
Total assets
Total assets	1,349,624		1,304,798
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	87,185	76,466
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,725	(2,077)
Total assets
Total assets	869,325		821,001
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	112,595	69,110
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,047	5,603
Total assets
Total assets	959,673		913,699
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	(24,783)	(21,777)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,508,798		$ 1,935,646