Supplemental Disclosure to Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$ 20,812	$ 21,578	$ 12,131
Income tax payment	215,092	119,852	185,084
Income tax refunds	3,101	2,776	4,451
Noncash activity:
Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	185,633	61,877	5,807
Financed portion of land sale		625
(Increase) decrease in inventory for capitalized interest, our share of equity earnings and allocation of basis difference in land purchase from unconsolidated entities	(1,320)	11,760	9,012
Cost of inventory acquired through foreclosure	4,609
Reclassification of deferred income from inventory to accrued liabilities		3,520	2,111
Reclassification of inventory to property, construction and office equipment		8,990	17,064
(Increase) decrease in unrecognized gain/loss in defined benefit plans	(3,115)	(1,201)	1,699
Defined benefit retirement plan amendment			757
Deferred tax decrease related to stock-based compensation activity included in additional paid-in capital		5,232	11,363
Increase in accrued expenses related to stock-based compensation			6,240
Income tax (expense) benefit recognized in total comprehensive income	(1,141)	(880)	590
Noncash transfer of other assets to inventory, net	16,763
Noncash transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities		72,757
Transfer of investment in unconsolidated entities to inventory		14,328
Transfer of other assets to investment in unconsolidated entities	60,971	1,308	24,967
Reclassification deferred income from accrued expenses to investment in unconsolidated entities	5,995
Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	623	130	29
Miscellaneous (decreases) increases to investments in unconsolidated entities	1,776	5,117	1,510
Acquisition of a Business:
Fair value of assets purchased, excluding cash acquired		88,465
Liabilities Assumed		5,377
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		83,088
Rental Property Joint Venture Woburn MA [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Noncash activity:
Non-controlling interest	$ 2,801