Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2020
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,563,376	$ 1,331,431
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	127,405	65,932
Total assets
Total assets	10,863,993		$ 11,065,733
Inventory Write-down	1,267	1,031
Proceeds from sale of golf club property	79,356
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	38,279
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	312,639	254,059
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	18,882	2,531
Total assets
Total assets	1,415,114		1,427,523
Inventory Write-down	35	94
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	163,984	162,476
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	18,813	6,988
Total assets
Total assets	984,134		918,641
Inventory Write-down	32	1
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	216,884	183,630
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	21,483	9,077
Total assets
Total assets	1,289,620		1,176,962
Inventory Write-down	25	747
Mountain [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	377,977	263,096
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	36,013	17,585
Total assets
Total assets	2,053,597		1,961,348
Inventory Write-down	9	178
Pacific [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	331,158	395,356
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	47,554	63,322
Total assets
Total assets	2,343,787		2,226,685
Inventory Write-down	66	11
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,402,642	1,258,617
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	142,745	99,503
Total assets
Total assets	8,086,252		7,711,159
Inventory Write-down	167	1,031
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	7,793	39,835
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	32,692	9,549
Total assets
Total assets	542,763		539,750
Inventory Write-down	1,100	0
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	269	(1,115)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(48,032)	(43,120)
Total assets
Total assets	2,234,978		$ 2,814,824
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,410,704	1,297,337
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	152,672	$ 34,094
Land [Member] | City Living [Member]
Total assets
Proceeds from sale of golf club property	82,400
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	$ (38,300)