Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,175,468	$ 920,730
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	131,598	109,781
Total assets
Total assets	9,617,899		$ 9,445,225
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	134,280	145,638
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	379	10,093
Total assets
Total assets	1,098,536		1,074,969
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	206,958	184,051
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	13,900	11,632
Total assets
Total assets	1,186,219		1,121,013
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	171,492	142,196
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	12,148	13,111
Total assets
Total assets	1,245,326		1,184,956
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	258,033	211,133
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	30,604	25,497
Total assets
Total assets	1,327,495		1,275,298
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	287,104	219,776
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	60,857	43,193
Total assets
Total assets	2,905,756		2,630,041
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,057,867	902,794
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	117,888	103,526
Total assets
Total assets	7,763,332		7,286,277
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	117,601	17,936
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	29,964	43,102
Total assets
Total assets	583,962		647,174
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(16,254)	$ (36,847)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,270,605		$ 1,511,774