Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2020
Revenues
Revenues	$ 2,255,481		$ 1,651,489	$ 5,748,981	$ 4,531,992
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	303,395		151,865	600,626	319,910
Total assets
Total assets	11,264,059			11,264,059		$ 11,065,733
Inventory Write-down	13,150		6,690	15,997	21,934
Proceeds from sale of golf club property				80,418	15,617
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets				38,706	12,970
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	402,885		290,399	1,106,189	840,481
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	39,700		13,722	97,802	33,249
Total assets
Total assets	1,469,778			1,469,778		1,427,523
Inventory Write-down	2,492		1,106	2,557	1,478
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	276,853		201,279	659,128	556,655
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	25,347		13,356	68,127	20,189
Total assets
Total assets	1,056,586			1,056,586		918,641
Inventory Write-down	10,488		4,783	10,578	15,449
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	291,725		276,319	788,785	690,809
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	41,439		32,422	101,190	61,612
Total assets
Total assets	1,420,453			1,420,453		1,176,962
Inventory Write-down	28		630	472	2,619
Mountain [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	553,192		425,400	1,363,019	1,026,000
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	85,085		53,099	173,178	103,883
Total assets
Total assets	2,293,469			2,293,469		1,961,348
Inventory Write-down	68		167	88	427
Pacific [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	523,995		406,424	1,313,758	1,225,072
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	85,029		76,808	206,750	207,867
Total assets
Total assets	2,348,574			2,348,574		2,226,685
Inventory Write-down	74		4	1,202	1,961
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	2,048,650		1,599,821	5,230,879	4,339,017
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	276,600		189,407	647,047	426,800
Total assets
Total assets	8,588,860			8,588,860		7,711,159
Inventory Write-down	13,150		6,690	14,897	21,934
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	184,099		26,366	249,877	102,973
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	65,912		9,543	111,084	27,789
Total assets
Total assets	402,596			402,596		539,750
Inventory Write-down	0		0	1,100	0
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,616		1,625	573	(607)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(39,117)		(47,085)	(157,505)	(134,679)
Total assets
Total assets	2,272,603			2,272,603		$ 2,814,824
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	2,234,365		1,627,812	5,481,329	4,441,383
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 21,116		$ 23,677	$ 267,652	$ 90,609
Land [Member] | City Living [Member]
Total assets
Proceeds from sale of golf club property		$ 82,400
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets		$ 38,300