Information on Segments (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 430,701	$ 366,252
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	948	24,868	$ 85,240
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	33,523	8,525
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(11)	0	(4,000)
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	93,734	91,956
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	14,012	19,098	12,263
Mountain
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	0
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	381	0	(63)
Pacific
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	433	9,825
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	1,280	(37)	2,404
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	127,690	110,306
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	15,662	19,061	10,604
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	33,819	60,512
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(7,674)	4,103	6,857
Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	269,192	195,434
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	$ (7,040)	$ 1,704	$ 67,779