Information on Geographic Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,044,534	$ 689,160	$ 516,004	$ 424,601	$ 632,826	$ 554,319	$ 373,681	$ 321,955	$ 2,674,299	$ 1,882,781	$ 1,475,881
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes	150,150	68,253	40,968	8,326	60,749	42,952	15,649	(6,408)	267,697	112,942	(29,366)
Total assets
Total assets	6,827,459				6,181,044				6,827,459	6,181,044
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									485,052	350,639	320,797
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									32,648	13,913	11,504
Total assets
Total assets	963,597				757,412				963,597	757,412
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									652,855	535,710	465,142
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									79,801	62,970	48,762
Total assets
Total assets	1,231,438				1,155,715				1,231,438	1,155,715
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									641,331	361,810	273,303
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									67,934	18,928	(25,272)
Total assets
Total assets	953,955				800,268				953,955	800,268
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									724,370	437,922	309,553
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									111,301	39,383	(27,113)
Total assets
Total assets	1,290,388				904,374				1,290,388	904,374
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									2,503,608	1,686,081	1,368,795
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									291,684	135,194	7,881
Total assets
Total assets	4,439,378				3,617,769				4,439,378	3,617,769
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues									170,691	196,700	107,086
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									53,345	61,910	39,201
Total assets
Total assets	674,302				486,970				674,302	486,970
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income (loss) before income taxes									(77,332)	(84,162)	(76,448)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,713,779				$ 2,076,305				$ 1,713,779	$ 2,076,305