Information on Segments (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 481,758	$ 496,411
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	116,066	40,748	$ 21,119
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	11,093	12,639
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(2,000)
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	85,757	93,182
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	9,185	11,013	11,074
West [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	2,529	2,921	447
California [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	148,499	130,534
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	7,509	5,896	5,089
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	245,349	236,355
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	17,223	19,830	16,610
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	92,904	85,882
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	73,123	13,184	(1,158)
Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	143,505	174,174
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	$ 25,720	$ 7,734	$ 5,667