Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,331,431	$ 1,363,181
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	65,932	151,446
Total assets
Total assets	10,587,206		$ 10,828,138
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	254,059	271,518
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	2,531	15,070
Total assets
Total assets	1,574,303		1,487,012
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	162,476	134,898
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	6,988	7,140
Total assets
Total assets	908,884		854,470
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	183,630	176,928
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	9,077	15,666
Total assets
Total assets	1,234,819		1,165,974
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	263,096	226,399
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	17,585	25,603
Total assets
Total assets	1,917,134		1,769,649
California [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	395,356	444,049
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	63,322	91,632
Total assets
Total assets	2,611,868		2,627,417
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,258,617	1,253,792
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	99,503	155,111
Total assets
Total assets	8,247,008		7,904,522
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	39,835	68,594
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	9,549	14,642
Total assets
Total assets	546,468		529,507
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	(1,115)	(3,078)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(43,120)	(18,307)
Total assets
Total assets	1,793,730		$ 2,394,109
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,297,337	1,319,308
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 34,094	$ 43,873