Accrued Expenses

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses at October 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

	2013		2012
Land, land development and construction	$	152,674	$	124,731
Compensation and employee benefit	111,561		111,093
Insurance and litigation	89,104		101,908
Warranty	43,819		41,706
Interest	25,675		28,204
Commitments to unconsolidated entities	3,804		2,135
Other	96,350		66,573
	$	522,987	$	476,350

The Company accrues for expected warranty costs at the time each home is closed and title and possession are transferred to the home buyer. Warranty costs are accrued based upon historical experience. The table below provides a reconciliation of the changes in the Company's warranty accrual during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 as follows (amounts in thousands):

	2013			2012			2011
Balance, beginning of year	$	41,706		$	42,474		$	45,835
Additions - homes closed during the year	14,652			10,560			8,809
Addition - liabilities acquired				731
(Decrease) increase in accruals for homes closed in prior years	(184		)	479			(828		)
Charges incurred	(12,355		)	(12,538		)	(11,342		)
Balance, end of year	$	43,819		$	41,706		$	42,474