Information on Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,028,011	$ 1,056,857	$ 2,734,046	$ 2,560,912
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	107,464	151,325	318,019	316,044
Total assets
Total assets	8,630,895		8,630,895		$ 8,416,902
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	180,705	163,530	463,159	428,415
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	14,487	17,740	27,918	34,892
Total assets
Total assets	1,082,469		1,082,469		1,053,787
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	228,304	202,791	579,195	552,362
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	9,432	26,518	50,251	72,427
Total assets
Total assets	1,278,025		1,278,025		1,267,563
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	233,504	239,902	611,288	576,589
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	38,360	36,690	100,960	77,642
Total assets
Total assets	1,243,930		1,243,930		1,165,600
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	324,988	381,640	895,397	889,476
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	53,866	73,859	145,495	153,371
Total assets
Total assets	2,911,580		2,911,580		2,676,164
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	967,501	987,863	2,549,039	2,446,842
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	116,145	154,807	324,624	338,332
Total assets
Total assets	6,516,004		6,516,004		6,163,114
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	60,510	68,994	185,007	114,070
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	22,309	26,387	80,314	35,351
Total assets
Total assets	898,451		898,451		834,949
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(30,990)	$ (29,869)	(86,919)	$ (57,639)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,216,440		$ 1,216,440		$ 1,418,839