Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Inventory
Inventory	$ 4,517,008			$ 3,761,187				$ 4,517,008		$ 3,761,187
Inventory impairments and write-offs	239				3,120			1,977	13,249
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	356,837			330,617				356,837		330,617
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0			0	(1,621)
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	91,659			56,300				91,659		56,300
Inventory impairments and write-offs	139				435			837	661
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,030,973			1,040,373				1,030,973		1,040,373
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0			0	918
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,394,376			2,664,514				3,394,376		2,664,514
Inventory impairments and write-offs	100	340	700	1,400	2,685	2,560	6,425	1,140	11,670	13,070
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	164,950			142,213				164,950		142,213
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	35,306			13,196				35,306		13,196
Inventory impairments and write-offs	33				47			832	(949)
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	325,157			226,082				325,157		226,082
Inventory impairments and write-offs
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	978,104			803,085				978,104		803,085
Inventory impairments and write-offs	100							940	2,725
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	29,994			27,249				29,994		27,249
Inventory impairments and write-offs	16				41			33	722
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	359,366			431,620				359,366		431,620
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	925,153			729,739				925,153		729,739
Inventory impairments and write-offs					2,000				4,100
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	47,269			31,252				47,269		31,252
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	12,194			7,724				12,194		7,724
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1				231			362	799
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	159,909			141,644				159,909		141,644
Inventory impairments and write-offs									918
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	696,943			603,239				696,943		603,239
Inventory impairments and write-offs					85				4,245
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	110,073			116,452				110,073		116,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									(1,621)
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	14,165			8,131				14,165		8,131
Inventory impairments and write-offs	89				116			(390)	89
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	186,541			241,027				186,541		241,027
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	794,176			528,451				794,176		528,451
Inventory impairments and write-offs					600			200	600
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	34,545			40,700				34,545		40,700
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities