Information on Geographic Segments (Details 1) (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, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Inventory
Inventory	$ 4,650,412				$ 3,732,703								$ 4,650,412	$ 3,732,703
Inventory impairments and write-offs													4,523	14,739	51,837
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	403,133				330,617								403,133	330,617
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													0	(2,311)	40,870
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	99,802				54,624								99,802	54,624
Inventory impairments and write-offs													1,183	451	17,752
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,287,630				1,013,565								1,287,630	1,013,565
Inventory impairments and write-offs													0	1,218	17,000
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,262,980				2,664,514								3,262,980	2,664,514
Inventory impairments and write-offs	2,200	100	340	700	1,400	2,685	2,560	6,425	710	175	10,725	5,475	3,340	13,070	17,085
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	16,267				10,606								16,267	10,606
Inventory impairments and write-offs													822	(907)	906
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	135,282				29,791								135,282	29,791
Inventory impairments and write-offs
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	785,175				701,253								785,175	701,253
Inventory impairments and write-offs													940	2,725	2,885
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	11,850												11,850
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	29,423				25,573								29,423	25,573
Inventory impairments and write-offs													322	238	307
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	308,585				396,562								308,585	396,562
Inventory impairments and write-offs														300	300
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	866,256				707,873								866,256	707,873
Inventory impairments and write-offs													200	5,500	3,700
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	50,452				31,252								50,452	31,252
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities															15,170
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	14,606				7,724								14,606	7,724
Inventory impairments and write-offs													400	800	313
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	158,457				141,644								158,457	141,644
Inventory impairments and write-offs														918	16,700
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	690,302				597,840								690,302	597,840
Inventory impairments and write-offs													2,000	3,445	3,800
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	110,467				116,452								110,467	116,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities														(2,311)	25,700
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	13,371				8,131								13,371	8,131
Inventory impairments and write-offs													(361)	205	16,184
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	448,125				232,546								448,125	232,546
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	697,573				528,451								697,573	528,451
Inventory impairments and write-offs													200	600	6,700
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	172,769				147,704								172,769	147,704
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													0	(2,311)	40,870
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	73,667				52,034								73,667	52,034
Inventory impairments and write-offs													1,183	336	17,710
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,050,449				800,543								1,050,449	800,543
Inventory impairments and write-offs													0	1,218	17,000
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,039,306				2,535,417								3,039,306	2,535,417
Inventory impairments and write-offs													3,340	12,270	17,085
City Living [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	135,950				104,436								135,950	104,436
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	26,135				2,590								26,135	2,590
Inventory impairments and write-offs														115	42
City Living [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	237,181				213,022								237,181	213,022
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	223,674				129,097								223,674	129,097
Inventory impairments and write-offs														800
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	94,414				78,477								94,414	78,477
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities