Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,363,181	$ 1,175,468
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	151,446	131,598
Total assets
Total assets	10,035,854		$ 10,244,590
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	169,501	134,280
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	10,736	379
Total assets
Total assets	978,905		970,854
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	205,696	206,958
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	11,372	13,900
Total assets
Total assets	1,159,891		1,130,417
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	208,147	171,492
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	15,768	12,148
Total assets
Total assets	1,247,691		1,237,744
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	300,430	258,033
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	43,614	30,604
Total assets
Total assets	1,721,433		1,580,199
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	370,018	287,104
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	73,621	60,857
Total assets
Total assets	2,747,835		2,733,956
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,253,792	1,057,867
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	155,111	117,888
Total assets
Total assets	7,855,755		7,653,170
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	68,594	117,601
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	14,642	29,964
Total assets
Total assets	505,045		516,238
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue	(3,078)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(18,307)	(16,254)
Total assets
Total assets	1,675,054		$ 2,075,182
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,319,308	1,175,468
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 43,873	$ 0