Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues	$ 920,730	$ 928,566	$ 5,169,508
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	109,781	116,817	589,027
Total assets
Total assets	9,516,800		9,736,789
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	145,638	120,818
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	10,093	8,033
Total assets
Total assets	1,071,049		1,020,250
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	184,051	169,808
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	11,632	16,983
Total assets
Total assets	1,182,142		1,166,023
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	142,196	146,798
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	13,111	21,245
Total assets
Total assets	1,257,109		1,203,554
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	211,133	137,258
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	25,497	19,688
Total assets
Total assets	1,250,759		1,130,625
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	219,776	216,903
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,193	43,536
Total assets
Total assets	2,625,956		2,479,885
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	902,794	791,585
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	103,526	109,485
Total assets
Total assets	7,387,015		7,000,337
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	17,936	136,981
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,102	43,680
Total assets
Total assets	824,419		946,738
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(36,847)	$ (36,348)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,305,366		$ 1,789,714