Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015 joint_ventures	Oct. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	22
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$ 467,259,000	$ 447,078,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	10
Other Commitment	80,874,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	7
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	144,103,000	140,221,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	4
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	4
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	205,253,000	189,509,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	2
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	10
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	100,939,000	97,353,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	4
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	1
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	16,964,000	19,995,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	0
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	31,180,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	29,887,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	19,807,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] | Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	$ 0