Significant Accounting Policies Receivables, prepaid expenses, and other assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2016

Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets [Abstract]

Receivables, prepaid expenses, and other assets [Table Text Block]

Receivables, prepaid expenses, and other assets at October 31, 2016 and 2015, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

	2016		2015
Expected recoveries from insurance carriers and suppliers	$	165,696	$	8,314
Improvement cost receivable	85,627		78,565
Escrow cash held by our captive title company	138,633		24,609
Property held for rental development	81,693		78,888
Investment in foreclosed real estate owned	11,552		50,233
Prepaid expenses	25,659		28,044
Other	73,898		67,207
	$	582,758	$	335,860

See Note 6, “Accrued Expenses,” for additional information regarding the expected recoveries from insurance carriers and suppliers. At October 31, 2016, escrow cash held by our captive title company includes $106.1 million in connection with the formation of a joint venture in December 2016. See Note 4, “Investments in Unconsolidated Entities – Home Building Joint Ventures,” for additional information.