Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 95,263	$ 110,291
Inventory	1,024,157	723,236
Non-performing loan portfolio	27,572	57,641
Rental properties	278,897	140,238
EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRentalPropertiesUnderDevelopment	390,399	327,315
Real estate owned ("REO")	117,758	184,753
Other assets	224,617	197,649
Total assets	2,158,663	1,741,123
Debt	1,127,121	521,833
Other liabilities	130,315	123,784
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Equity Excluding Noncontrolling Interests	806,327	936,089
Non-controlling interest	94,900	159,417
Total liabilities and equity	2,158,663	1,741,123
Investments in unconsolidated entities	412,860	447,078
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	16,795	18,342
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	29,281	31,968
Inventory	$ 701,527	$ 258,092
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties
EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRentalPropertiesUnderDevelopment
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	$ 70,799	$ 30,166
Total assets	801,607	320,226
Debt	417,025	102,042
Other liabilities	29,772	23,854
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Equity Excluding Noncontrolling Interests	$ 354,810	$ 194,330
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	$ 801,607	$ 320,226
Investments in unconsolidated entities	214,060	140,221
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,203	21,821
Inventory	$ 322,630	$ 465,144
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties
EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRentalPropertiesUnderDevelopment
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	$ 61,144	$ 75,164
Total assets	394,977	562,129
Debt	117,251	8,713
Other liabilities	70,078	56,665
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Equity Excluding Noncontrolling Interests	$ 207,648	$ 496,751
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	$ 394,977	$ 562,129
Investments in unconsolidated entities	76,120	189,509
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 44,310	$ 33,040
Inventory
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties	$ 278,897	$ 140,238
EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRentalPropertiesUnderDevelopment	$ 390,399	$ 327,315
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	$ 12,199	$ 14,333
Total assets	725,805	514,926
Debt	514,895	333,128
Other liabilities	30,329	43,088
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Equity Excluding Noncontrolling Interests	$ 180,581	$ 138,710
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	$ 725,805	$ 514,926
Investments in unconsolidated entities	110,454	97,353
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,469	$ 23,462
Inventory
Non-performing loan portfolio	$ 27,572	$ 57,641
Rental properties
EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRentalPropertiesUnderDevelopment
Real estate owned ("REO")	$ 117,758	$ 184,753
Other assets	80,475	77,986
Total assets	236,274	343,842
Debt	77,950	77,950
Other liabilities	136	177
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Equity Excluding Noncontrolling Interests	63,288	106,298
Non-controlling interest	94,900	159,417
Total liabilities and equity	236,274	343,842
Investments in unconsolidated entities	12,226	19,995
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 78,000	$ 78,000