Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$ 6,627,481	$ 6,490,321
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	75,014	122,533
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,419,952	2,355,874
Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,132,515	4,011,914
North [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,055,426	1,018,053
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	10,388	12,007
North [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	180,634	171,780
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	864,404	834,266
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,249,040	1,233,534
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	31,206	29,169
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	213,218	209,506
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,004,616	994,859
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,074,028	1,024,710
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	9,032	10,971
South [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	211,894	219,904
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	853,102	793,835
West [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,641,684	2,590,970
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	15,521	22,122
West [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,400,454	1,391,028
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,225,709	1,177,820
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	6,020,178	5,867,267
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	66,147	74,269
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,006,200	1,992,218
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	3,947,831	3,800,780
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	607,303	623,054
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	8,867	48,264
City Living [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	413,752	363,656
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$ 184,684	$ 211,134