Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	$ 640,267	$ 889,309	$ 374,815
Cost of revenues	522,595	562,947	236,525
Other expenses	82,458	83,055	44,850
Total expenses	605,053	646,002	281,375
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	53,192	48,079	49,579
Income (loss) from operations	88,406	291,386	143,019
Other income (expense)	232,754	14,028	5,294
Net income (loss)			148,313
Income before income taxes	321,160	305,414
Income tax provision	853	7,662
Net income including earnings from noncontrolling interests	320,307	297,752
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28,297)	(20,439)	(18,218)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	292,010	277,313	130,095
Other comprehensive income			100
Total comprehensive income (loss)			130,195
Company's equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	85,240	116,066	40,748
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	351,397	288,440	142,015
Cost of revenues	317,363	191,965	63,429
Other expenses	9,125	6,508	3,904
Total expenses	326,488	198,473	67,333
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	24,909	89,967	74,682
Other income (expense)	5,939	4,723	3,464
Net income (loss)			78,146
Income before income taxes	30,848	94,690
Income tax provision	86	94
Net income including earnings from noncontrolling interests	30,762	94,596
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to controlling interest	30,762	94,596	78,146
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income (loss)			78,146
Company's equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	3,392	13,007	15,772
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	148,002	475,260	168,164
Cost of revenues	112,469	286,446	118,621
Other expenses	8,630	13,102	8,124
Total expenses	121,099	299,548	126,745
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	26,903	175,712	41,419
Other income (expense)	2,134	7,317	(486)
Net income (loss)			40,933
Income before income taxes	29,037	183,029
Income tax provision	767	7,473
Net income including earnings from noncontrolling interests	28,270	175,556
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to controlling interest	28,270	175,556	40,933
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income (loss)			40,933
Company's equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	14,069	77,339	16,945
Rental Property Joint Ventures, including Trust I [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	121,276	115,519	58,707
Cost of revenues	74,946	70,108	29,791
Other expenses	61,502	59,503	30,779
Total expenses	136,448	129,611	60,570
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	(15,172)	(14,092)	(1,863)
Other income (expense)	222,744	1,556	1,144
Net income (loss)			(719)
Income before income taxes	207,572	(12,536)
Income tax provision		95
Net income including earnings from noncontrolling interests	207,572	(12,631)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to controlling interest	207,572	(12,631)	(719)
Other comprehensive income			100
Total comprehensive income (loss)			(619)
Company's equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	62,204	21,458	5,721
Gibraltar Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	19,592	10,090	5,929
Cost of revenues	17,817	14,428	24,684
Other expenses	3,201	3,942	2,043
Total expenses	21,018	18,370	26,727
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	53,192	48,079	49,579
Income (loss) from operations	51,766	39,799	28,781
Other income (expense)	1,937	432	1,172
Net income (loss)			29,953
Income before income taxes	53,703	40,231
Income tax provision
Net income including earnings from noncontrolling interests	53,703	40,231
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28,297)	(20,439)	(18,218)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	25,406	19,792	11,735
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income (loss)			11,735
Company's equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	$ 5,575	$ 4,262	$ 2,310