Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Inventory
Inventory	$ 5,235,647	$ 4,650,412				$ 4,650,412
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,982				709
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	430,615	403,133				403,133
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	254,549	99,802				99,802
Inventory impairments and write-offs	682				9
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,491,205	1,287,630				1,287,630
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,489,893	3,262,980				3,262,980
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,300	2,200	100	340	700	3,340
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	14,937	16,267				16,267
Inventory impairments and write-offs	180				88
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	177,321	135,282				135,282
Inventory impairments and write-offs
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	788,391	785,175				785,175
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,300				500
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	11,850	11,850				11,850
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	28,172	29,423				29,423
Inventory impairments and write-offs	246				16
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	285,761	308,585				308,585
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	911,138	866,256				866,256
Inventory impairments and write-offs
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	91,097	50,452				50,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	15,163	14,606				14,606
Inventory impairments and write-offs	249				355
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	254,989	158,457				158,457
Inventory impairments and write-offs
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	729,757	690,302				690,302
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	84,502	110,467				110,467
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	169,919	13,371				13,371
Inventory impairments and write-offs	7				(450)
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	460,963	448,125				448,125
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	819,421	697,573				697,573
Inventory impairments and write-offs					200
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	187,449	172,769				172,769
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	228,191	73,667				73,667
Inventory impairments and write-offs	682				9
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,179,034	1,050,449				1,050,449
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,248,707	3,039,306				3,039,306
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,300				700
City Living [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	145,748	135,950				135,950
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	26,358	26,135				26,135
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	312,171	237,181				237,181
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	241,186	223,674				223,674
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	97,418	94,414				94,414
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities