Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 363,167	$ 340,032	$ 170,606
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23,557	22,999	25,210
Stock-based compensation	22,903	21,656	19,041
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(1,628)	(7,593)	(24,417)
Income Loss from Unconsolidated Entities	(21,119)	(41,141)	(14,392)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	19,459	43,973	23,468
Income from distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	(13,269)	(15,833)	(16,312)
Deferred tax provision	62,084	47,431	75,219
Change in deferred tax valuation allowances	(12,642)	(11,929)	(1,337)
Inventory impairments and write-offs	35,709	20,678	4,523
Other	(316)	(22)	117
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory	(351,983)	(271,982)	(941,314)
Origination of mortgage loans	(1,029,112)	(818,515)	(743,497)
Sale of mortgage loans	1,007,671	829,948	716,586
Decrease in restricted cash	1,547	13,694	15,240
Increase in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(55,553)	(5,214)	(51,794)
Increase in customer deposits	46,478	10,516	52,383
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	28,729	82,101	100,463
(Decrease)/Increase in income taxes payable	(65,500)	52,401	21,244
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	60,182	313,200	(568,963)
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	$ (9,447)	$ (15,074)	(26,567)
Purchase of marketable securities			(36,202)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	$ 2,000	$ 40,242	417,846
Investment in unconsolidated entities	(123,940)	(113,029)	(93,398)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	39,766	73,845	69,809
Investment in foreclosed real estate and distressed loans	(2,624)	(2,089)	(26,155)
Return of investments in foreclosed real estate and distressed loans	37,625	$ 53,130	$ 27,370
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest	$ 3,848
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired		$ (1,489,116)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	$ (52,772)	(1,452,091)	$ 332,703
Cash flow provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	350,000	600,000	$ 400,383
Debt issuance costs for senior notes	(3,175)	(4,739)
Proceeds from loans payable	$ 1,954,432	2,229,371	$ 1,164,531
Debt issuance costs for loans payable		(3,063)
Principal payments of loans payable	$ (1,659,458)	(1,767,115)	$ (1,195,524)
Repayments of Senior Debt	$ (300,000)	(267,960)	$ (163,853)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		220,365
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	$ 39,514	28,364	$ 15,798
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,628	7,593	24,417
Purchase of treasury stock	(56,888)	(90,754)	(15,377)
(Payments) receipts related to noncontrolling Interest, net	(785)	172	33
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	325,268	952,234	230,408
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	332,678	(186,657)	(5,852)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	586,315	772,972	778,824
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 918,993	$ 586,315	$ 772,972