Supplemental Disclosure to Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$ 23,930	$ 10,131	$ 18,187
Income tax payment	205,412	71,608	3,130
Income tax refunds	16,965	8	1,190
Non-cash activity:
Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	67,890	96,497	45,726
Financed portion of land sale	2,273	6,586	7,200
Reduction in inventory for Company's share of earnings in land purchased from unconsolidated entities	$ 9,188	$ 4,177	3,035
Transfer of investment in REO to inventory			764
Reclassification of deferred income from inventory to accrued liabilities			4,545
Reclassification of inventory to property, construction and office equipment		$ 9,482	5,576
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized losses in defined benefit plans	$ (382)	1,183	(3,636)
Defined benefit retirement plan amendment	768	511	$ 826
Deferred tax decrease related to exercise of stock options included in APIC	$ 2,325	312
Increase in accrued expenses related to Stock Price-Based RSUs paid		5,086	$ 2,942
Income tax (expense) benefit recognized in total comprehensive income	$ (200)	202	(1,512)
Transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities		4,152	$ 54,761
Non cash transfer of investment in unconsolidated investments to inventory	$ 132,256	$ 2,704
Non Cash Transfer Of Other Assets To Investment In Unconsolidated Entities	4,852
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative held by equity investee	26	$ 364	$ 435
Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	1,843	1,356	1,582
Miscellaneous (decreases) increases to investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 144	249	$ (1,811)
Acquisition of a Business:
Business Combination, Assets Acquired Net Of Cash Acquired		1,524,964
Fair Value of Liabilities Assumed Business Combination		35,848
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		$ 1,489,116