Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	$ 757,042	$ 640,267	$ 889,309
Cost of revenues	661,814	522,595	562,947
Other expenses	80,859	82,458	83,055
Total expenses	742,673	605,053	646,002
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	4,383	53,192	48,079
Income (loss) from operations	18,752	88,406	291,386
Other income (expense)	38,667	232,754	14,028
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	57,419	321,160	305,414
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Tax Provision	650	853	7,662
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income Including Earnings from Noncontrolling Interests	56,769	320,307	297,752
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(9,593)	(28,297)	(20,439)
Net income (loss)	47,176	292,010	277,313
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	24,868	85,240	116,066
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	261,677	351,397	288,440
Cost of revenues	247,070	317,363	191,965
Other expenses	4,662	9,125	6,508
Total expenses	251,732	326,488	198,473
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	9,945	24,909	89,967
Other income (expense)	3,079	5,939	4,723
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	13,024	30,848	94,690
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Tax Provision	193	86	94
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income Including Earnings from Noncontrolling Interests	12,831	30,762	94,596
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss)	12,831	30,762	94,596
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	6,160	3,392	13,007
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	374,587	148,002	475,260
Cost of revenues	333,008	112,469	286,446
Other expenses	15,389	8,630	13,102
Total expenses	348,397	121,099	299,548
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	26,190	26,903	175,712
Other income (expense)	6,144	2,134	7,317
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	32,334	29,037	183,029
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Tax Provision	457	767	7,473
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income Including Earnings from Noncontrolling Interests	31,877	28,270	175,556
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss)	31,877	28,270	175,556
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	17,004	14,069	77,339
Rental Property Joint Ventures, including Trust I [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	99,401	121,276	115,519
Cost of revenues	68,502	74,946	70,108
Other expenses	58,928	61,502	59,503
Total expenses	127,430	136,448	129,611
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	(28,029)	(15,172)	(14,092)
Other income (expense)	16,651	222,744	1,556
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	(11,378)	207,572	(12,536)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Tax Provision			95
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income Including Earnings from Noncontrolling Interests	(11,378)	207,572	(12,631)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss)	(11,378)	207,572	(12,631)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(824)	62,204	21,458
Gibraltar Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	21,377	19,592	10,090
Cost of revenues	13,234	17,817	14,428
Other expenses	1,880	3,201	3,942
Total expenses	15,114	21,018	18,370
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	4,383	53,192	48,079
Income (loss) from operations	10,646	51,766	39,799
Other income (expense)	12,793	1,937	432
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	23,439	53,703	40,231
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Tax Provision
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income Including Earnings from Noncontrolling Interests	23,439	53,703	40,231
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(9,593)	(28,297)	(20,439)
Net income (loss)	13,846	25,406	19,792
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	$ 2,528	$ 5,575	$ 4,262