Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$ 6,990,878	$ 6,490,321
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	76,371	122,533
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,344,705	2,355,874
Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,569,802	4,011,914
North [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,053,967	1,018,053
North [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	12,097	12,007
North [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	176,753	171,780
North [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	865,117	834,266
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,238,226	1,233,534
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	32,616	29,169
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	251,726	209,506
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	953,884	994,859
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,067,309	1,024,710
South [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,223	10,971
South [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	286,806	219,904
South [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	776,280	793,835
West [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,816,253	2,590,970
West [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	26,136	22,122
West [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,140,623	1,391,028
West [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,649,494	1,177,820
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	6,175,755	5,867,267
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	75,072	74,269
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,855,908	1,992,218
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,244,775	3,800,780
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	815,123	623,054
City Living [Member] | Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,299	48,264
City Living [Member] | Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	488,797	363,656
City Living [Member] | Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$ 325,027	$ 211,134