Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) home_sites joint_ventures	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Expected Lot Purchase | home_sites	3,200
Purchase Obligation	$ 1,263,457	$ 1,227,914
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of JV with Purchase Commitments | joint_ventures	2
Land Purchase Commitment To JV [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation	$ 171,624	$ 184,260
Land for Apartment Development Purchase Commitment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation	58,200
Deposits against Aggregate Purchase Commitments	1,500
Lease On Land For High-Rise Cooperative Owned Building [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Deposits against Aggregate Purchase Commitments	$ 4,700
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	99 years
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	$ 17,300
Estimated lease payments	$ 4,700
Estimated number of years to be paid	2 years
Commitment To Acquire Home Sites [Member] | Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of Home Sites to be Acquired from Joint Ventures | home_sites	451