Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,599,199	$ 1,363,512	$ 2,774,667	$ 2,284,242
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	152,748	199,209	284,346	308,990
Total assets
Total assets	9,843,726		9,843,726		$ 9,445,225
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	226,214	189,345	360,494	334,983
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	1,657	10,513	2,036	20,606
Total assets
Total assets	1,085,200		1,085,200		1,074,969
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	254,907	226,491	461,865	410,542
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	20,444	21,911	34,344	33,543
Total assets
Total assets	1,185,334		1,185,334		1,121,013
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	240,714	195,111	412,206	337,307
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	27,130	20,819	39,278	33,930
Total assets
Total assets	1,291,941		1,291,941		1,184,956
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	349,388	302,702	607,421	513,835
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	48,049	42,325	78,653	67,822
Total assets
Total assets	1,423,300		1,423,300		1,275,298
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	438,342	373,303	725,446	593,079
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	85,661	83,336	146,518	126,529
Total assets
Total assets	2,983,624		2,983,624		2,630,041
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,509,565	1,286,952	2,567,432	2,189,746
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	182,941	178,904	300,829	282,430
Total assets
Total assets	7,969,399		7,969,399		7,286,277
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	89,634	76,560	207,235	94,496
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	16,685	41,930	46,649	85,032
Total assets
Total assets	555,876		555,876		647,174
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(46,878)	$ (21,625)	(63,132)	$ (58,472)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,318,451		$ 1,318,451		$ 1,511,774