Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021	Jan. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020	Apr. 30, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues:									$ 8,790,361	$ 7,077,659	$ 7,223,966
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	$ 499,689	$ 303,395	$ 169,826	$ 127,405	$ 266,991	$ 151,865	$ 102,113	$ 65,932	1,100,315	586,901	787,170
Total assets
Total assets	11,537,850				11,065,733				11,537,850	11,065,733
Proceeds from the sale of assets									80,418	15,617	79,647
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									38,706	12,970	36,277
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									1,645,724	1,364,750	1,484,430
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									154,298	57,826	81,350
Total assets
Total assets	1,357,168				1,427,523				1,357,168	1,427,523
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									1,072,300	845,597	804,342
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									129,056	50,621	50,737
Total assets
Total assets	976,887				918,641				976,887	918,641
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									1,183,272	1,041,204	991,915
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									153,799	108,399	106,082
Total assets
Total assets	1,421,612				1,176,962				1,421,612	1,176,962
Mountain
Revenues
Revenues:									2,003,045	1,535,757	1,130,874
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									276,360	167,687	112,979
Total assets
Total assets	2,397,484				1,961,348				2,397,484	1,961,348
Pacific
Revenues
Revenues:									2,156,114	2,029,851	2,416,629
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									384,036	352,831	509,760
Total assets
Total assets	2,174,997				2,226,685				2,174,997	2,226,685
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									8,060,455	6,817,159	6,828,190
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									1,097,549	737,364	860,908
Total assets
Total assets	8,328,148				7,711,159				8,328,148	7,711,159
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									370,772	120,946	253,188
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									157,653	29,679	70,133
Total assets
Total assets	332,972				539,750				332,972	539,750
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:									519	(748)	(999)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes									(154,887)	(180,142)	(143,871)
Total assets
Total assets	2,876,730				2,814,824				2,876,730	2,814,824
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:	2,950,417	2,234,365	1,836,260	1,410,704	2,495,974	1,627,812	1,516,234	1,297,337	8,431,746	6,937,357	7,080,379
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues:	$ 90,963	$ 21,116	$ 93,864	152,672	$ 49,693	$ 23,677	$ 32,838	$ 34,094	$ 358,615	$ 140,302	$ 143,587
Land [Member] | City Living [Member]
Total assets
Proceeds from the sale of assets				82,400
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets				$ 38,300