Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 170,606	$ 487,146	$ 39,795
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,210	22,586	23,142
Stock-based compensation	19,041	15,575	12,494
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(24,417)	(5,776)
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0	(2,311)	40,870
Income from unconsolidated entities	(14,392)	(21,281)	(39,676)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	23,468	5,258	12,081
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(16,312)	(12,444)	(5,113)
Deferred tax benefit (provision)	75,219	41,810	(18,188)
Deferred tax valuation allowances	(1,337)	(394,718)	18,188
Inventory impairments and write-offs	4,523	14,739	51,837
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments	174	(670)	475
Gain on marketable securities	(57)	(40)
Expenses related to early retirement of debt			3,827
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory	(941,314)	(195,948)	(215,738)
Origination of mortgage loans	(743,497)	(651,618)	(630,294)
Sale of mortgage loans	716,586	629,397	659,610
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	15,240	(27,516)	41,146
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(51,794)	(36,497)	(5,619)
Increase in customer deposits	52,383	44,383	13,175
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses	100,463	(58,537)	(28,624)
Decrease in income tax refund recoverable		0	141,590
Decrease in income taxes payable	21,244	(25,075)	(56,225)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(568,963)	(171,537)	58,753
Cash flow used in investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(26,567)	(11,920)	(15,456)
Purchase of marketable securities	(36,202)	(579,958)	(452,864)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	417,846	368,253	408,831
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(93,398)	(217,160)	(132)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	69,809	38,368	43,309
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(26,155)	(30,090)	(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	27,370	16,707	2,806
Acquisition of a business	0	(144,746)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	332,703	(560,546)	(80,373)
Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes	400,383	578,696	0
Proceeds from loans payable	1,164,531	1,002,934	921,251
Principal payments of loans payable	(1,195,524)	(1,016,081)	(952,621)
Repayments of Senior Debt	(163,853)	0	(58,837)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	15,798	33,747	25,531
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	24,417	5,776	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(15,377)	(505)	(49,102)
Change in noncontrolling interest	33		2,678
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	230,408	604,567	(111,100)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(5,852)	(127,516)	(132,720)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	778,824	906,340	1,039,060
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 772,972	$ 778,824	$ 906,340