Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020	Apr. 30, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									$ 7,077,659	$ 7,223,966	$ 7,143,258
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	$ 266,991	$ 151,865	$ 102,113	$ 65,932	$ 272,649	$ 186,916	$ 176,159	$ 151,446	586,901	787,170	933,916
Total assets
Total assets	11,065,733				10,828,138				11,065,733	10,828,138
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,364,750	1,484,430	1,517,917
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									57,826	81,350	98,233
Total assets
Total assets	1,427,523				1,487,012				1,427,523	1,487,012
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									845,597	804,342	775,676
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									50,621	50,737	59,254
Total assets
Total assets	918,641				854,470				918,641	854,470
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,041,204	991,915	868,580
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									108,399	106,082	99,920
Total assets
Total assets	1,176,962				1,165,974				1,176,962	1,165,974
Mountain
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,535,757	1,130,874	1,126,580
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									167,687	112,979	136,163
Total assets
Total assets	1,961,348				1,769,649				1,961,348	1,769,649
Pacific
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									2,029,851	2,416,629	2,533,506
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									352,831	509,760	571,353
Total assets
Total assets	2,226,685				2,627,417				2,226,685	2,627,417
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									6,817,159	6,828,190	6,822,259
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									737,364	860,908	964,923
Total assets
Total assets	7,711,159				7,904,522				7,711,159	7,904,522
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									120,946	253,188	320,999
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									29,679	70,133	78,149
Total assets
Total assets	539,750				529,507				539,750	529,507
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									(748)	(999)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									(180,142)	(143,871)	(109,156)
Total assets
Total assets	2,814,824				2,394,109				2,814,824	2,394,109
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	2,495,974	1,627,812	1,516,234	1,297,337	2,292,044	1,756,970	1,712,057	1,319,308	6,937,357	7,080,379	7,143,258
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	$ 49,693	$ 23,677	$ 32,838	$ 34,094	$ 86,956	$ 8,721	$ 4,037	$ 43,873	$ 140,302	$ 143,587	$ 0