Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,651,489	$ 1,765,691	$ 4,531,992	$ 4,844,966
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	151,865	186,916	319,910	514,521
Total assets
Total assets	10,537,431		10,537,431		$ 10,828,138
Inventory Write-down	6,690	4,679	21,934	31,636
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	290,399	360,008	840,481	976,616
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	13,722	25,126	33,249	47,483
Total assets
Total assets	1,526,703		1,526,703		1,487,012
Inventory Write-down	1,106	212	1,478	17,860
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	201,279	213,716	556,655	522,703
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	13,356	11,968	20,189	29,571
Total assets
Total assets	946,295		946,295		854,470
Inventory Write-down	4,783	1,277	15,449	1,380
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	276,319	243,420	690,809	663,109
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	32,422	24,397	61,612	68,711
Total assets
Total assets	1,232,172		1,232,172		1,165,974
Inventory Write-down	630	3,072	2,619	7,418
Mountain [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	425,400	292,693	1,026,000	804,901
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	53,099	32,192	103,883	85,172
Total assets
Total assets	1,961,496		1,961,496		1,769,649
Inventory Write-down	167	87	427	102
Pacific [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	406,424	573,492	1,225,072	1,597,157
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	76,808	121,798	207,867	336,412
Total assets
Total assets	2,475,221		2,475,221		2,627,417
Inventory Write-down	4	31	1,961	76
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,599,821	1,683,329	4,339,017	4,564,486
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	189,407	215,481	426,800	567,349
Total assets
Total assets	8,141,887		8,141,887		7,904,522
Inventory Write-down	6,690	4,679	21,934	26,836
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	26,366	71,892	102,973	224,560
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	9,543	19,185	27,789	59,661
Total assets
Total assets	537,855		537,855		529,507
Inventory Write-down		0		4,800
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,625	1,749	(607)	(711)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(47,085)	(47,750)	(134,679)	(112,489)
Total assets
Total assets	1,857,689		1,857,689		$ 2,394,109
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,627,812	1,756,970	4,441,383	4,788,335
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 23,677	$ 8,721	$ 90,609	$ 56,631