Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Inventory
Inventory	$ 6,593,804			$ 4,650,412				$ 6,593,804		$ 4,650,412
Inventory impairments and write-offs	5,992				239			9,898	1,977
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	443,285			403,133				443,285		403,133
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0			0	(1,621)
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	117,753			99,802				117,753		99,802
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,192				139			2,198	837
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	2,322,532			1,287,630				2,322,532		1,287,630
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0			0	0
Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	4,153,519			3,262,980				4,153,519		3,262,980
Inventory impairments and write-offs	4,800	1,600	1,300	2,200	100	340	700	7,700	1,140	3,340
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	12,949			16,267				12,949		16,267
Inventory impairments and write-offs	51				33			298	832
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	166,560			135,282				166,560		135,282
Inventory impairments and write-offs
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	841,973			785,175				841,973		785,175
Inventory impairments and write-offs					100			2,900	940
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	11,850			11,850				11,850		11,850
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	31,308			29,423				31,308		29,423
Inventory impairments and write-offs	739				16			1,065	33
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	227,605			308,585				227,605		308,585
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	977,246			866,256				977,246		866,256
Inventory impairments and write-offs	4,800							4,800
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	98,496			50,452				98,496		50,452
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	12,895			14,606				12,895		14,606
Inventory impairments and write-offs	365				1			704	362
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	304,124			158,457				304,124		158,457
Inventory impairments and write-offs
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	736,266			690,302				736,266		690,302
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	79,142			110,467				79,142		110,467
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									(1,621)
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	7,608			13,371				7,608		13,371
Inventory impairments and write-offs	37				89			131	(390)
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,347,521			448,125				1,347,521		448,125
Inventory impairments and write-offs
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	1,323,941			697,573				1,323,941		697,573
Inventory impairments and write-offs									200
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	189,488			172,769				189,488		172,769
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0				0			0	(1,621)
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	64,760			73,667				64,760		73,667
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,192				139			2,198	837
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	2,045,810			1,050,449				2,045,810		1,050,449
Inventory impairments and write-offs	0				0			0	0
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	3,879,426			3,039,306				3,879,426		3,039,306
Inventory impairments and write-offs	4,800				100			7,700	1,140
City Living [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	155,239			135,950				155,239		135,950
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	52,993			26,135				52,993		26,135
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	276,722			237,181				276,722		237,181
Inventory impairments and write-offs
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory	274,093			223,674				274,093		223,674
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	98,558			94,414				98,558		94,414
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities