Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,913,353	$ 1,502,909	$ 4,688,020	$ 3,787,151
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	253,097	203,574	537,443	512,564
Total assets
Total assets	9,949,220		9,949,220		$ 9,445,225
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	266,226	225,829	626,719	560,812
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	21,240	16,436	23,276	37,042
Total assets
Total assets	1,062,941		1,062,941		1,074,969
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	304,060	281,915	765,925	692,457
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	20,614	35,628	54,958	69,171
Total assets
Total assets	1,216,005		1,216,005		1,121,013
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	299,259	253,904	711,466	591,211
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	34,729	33,566	74,006	67,496
Total assets
Total assets	1,291,591		1,291,591		1,184,956
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	382,455	307,406	989,877	821,241
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	60,120	43,180	138,773	111,002
Total assets
Total assets	1,561,175		1,561,175		1,275,298
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	610,737	335,224	1,336,183	928,303
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	140,278	72,703	286,797	199,232
Total assets
Total assets	2,908,607		2,908,607		2,630,041
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,862,737	1,404,278	4,430,170	3,594,024
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	276,981	201,513	577,810	483,943
Total assets
Total assets	8,040,319		8,040,319		7,286,277
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	50,616	98,631	257,850	193,127
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	13,617	46,750	60,266	131,782
Total assets
Total assets	540,532		540,532		647,174
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(37,501)	$ (44,689)	(100,633)	$ (103,161)
Total assets
Total assets	$ 1,368,369		$ 1,368,369		$ 1,511,774