Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,363,512	$ 1,115,557	$ 2,284,242	$ 2,044,123	$ 5,169,508
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	199,209	140,397	308,990	257,214	589,027
Total assets
Total assets	9,866,964		9,866,964		9,736,789
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	189,345	165,674	334,983	286,492
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	10,513	8,273	20,606	16,306
Total assets
Total assets	1,110,080		1,110,080		1,020,250
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	226,491	186,587	410,542	356,395
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	21,911	20,887	33,543	37,870
Total assets
Total assets	1,196,635		1,196,635		1,166,023
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	195,111	192,448	337,307	339,246
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	20,819	31,134	33,930	52,379
Total assets
Total assets	1,296,650		1,296,650		1,203,554
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	302,702	188,367	513,835	325,625
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	42,325	24,163	67,822	43,851
Total assets
Total assets	1,253,967		1,253,967		1,130,625
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	373,303	328,439	593,079	545,341
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	83,336	74,948	126,529	118,483
Total assets
Total assets	2,635,819		2,635,819		2,479,885
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,286,952	1,061,515	2,189,746	1,853,099
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	178,904	159,405	282,430	268,889
Total assets
Total assets	7,493,151		7,493,151		7,000,337
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	76,560	54,042	94,496	191,024
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	41,930	16,235	85,032	59,916
Total assets
Total assets	793,714		793,714		946,738
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(21,625)	$ (35,243)	(58,472)	$ (71,591)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,580,099		$ 1,580,099		$ 1,789,714