Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	$ 84,578	$ 45,355	$ 170,884	$ 201,328
Cost of revenues	53,378	28,624	116,928	126,493
Other expenses	8,762	6,379	25,598	31,323
Total expenses	62,140	35,003	142,526	157,816
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	1,507	8,076	25,094	14,534
Income (loss) from operations	23,945	18,428	53,452	58,046
Other income	906	2,232	6,749	47,172
Net income (loss)	24,851	20,660	60,201	105,218
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	706	(4,524)	(10,371)	(7,178)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	25,557	16,136	49,830	98,040
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40	(82)	(6)	647
Total comprehensive income	25,597	16,054	49,824	98,687
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	5,952	950	17,080	38,192
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	49,579	17,842	81,338	129,792
Cost of revenues	22,721	6,650	38,838	68,820
Other expenses	757	115	1,290	580
Total expenses	$ 23,478	$ 6,765	$ 40,128	$ 69,400
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	$ 26,101	$ 11,077	$ 41,210	$ 60,392
Other income	51	54	62	60
Net income (loss)	$ 26,152	$ 11,131	$ 41,272	$ 60,452
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$ 26,152	$ 11,131	$ 41,272	$ 60,452
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	$ 26,152	$ 11,131	$ 41,272	$ 60,452
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	5,059	353	10,440	456
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	24,595	16,357	60,854	39,585
Cost of revenues	21,936	14,438	53,294	36,264
Other expenses	1,992	1,680	4,868	3,727
Total expenses	$ 23,928	$ 16,118	$ 58,162	$ 39,991
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	$ 667	$ 239	$ 2,692	$ (406)
Other income	261	(110)	602	91
Net income (loss)	$ 928	$ 129	$ 3,294	$ (315)
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$ 928	$ 129	$ 3,294	$ (315)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	$ 928	$ 129	$ 3,294	$ (315)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	1,039	(60)	2,497	266
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	8,587	7,955	23,915	24,961
Cost of revenues	4,225	3,411	11,452	10,802
Other expenses	5,654	4,219	18,489	25,777
Total expenses	$ 9,879	$ 7,630	$ 29,941	$ 36,579
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	$ (1,292)	$ 325	$ (6,026)	$ (11,618)
Other income	239	1,535	4,376	44,735
Net income (loss)	$ (1,053)	$ 1,860	$ (1,650)	$ 33,117
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$ (1,053)	$ 1,860	$ (1,650)	$ 33,117
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40	(82)	(6)	647
Total comprehensive income	(1,013)	1,778	(1,656)	33,764
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(38)	55	2,777	36,678
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	1,817	3,201	4,777	6,990
Cost of revenues	4,496	4,125	13,344	10,607
Other expenses	359	365	951	1,239
Total expenses	4,855	4,490	14,295	11,846
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	1,507	8,076	25,094	14,534
Income (loss) from operations	(1,531)	6,787	15,576	9,678
Other income	355	753	1,709	2,286
Net income (loss)	(1,176)	7,540	17,285	11,964
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	706	(4,524)	(10,371)	(7,178)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$ (470)	$ 3,016	$ 6,914	$ 4,786
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	$ (470)	$ 3,016	$ 6,914	$ 4,786
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	$ (108)	$ 602	$ 1,366	$ 792