Information on Segments (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 599,101	$ 430,701
Income from unconsolidated entities	74,035	948	$ 24,868
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	27,313	33,523
Income from unconsolidated entities	5,953	(11)	0
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	128,777	93,734
Income from unconsolidated entities	12,619	14,012	19,098
Mountain
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	14,612	0
Income from unconsolidated entities	0	381	0
Pacific
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	73,066	433
Income from unconsolidated entities	(17)	1,280	(37)
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	243,768	127,690
Income from unconsolidated entities	18,555	15,662	19,061
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	12,944	33,819
Income from unconsolidated entities	(641)	(7,674)	4,103
Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment and Equity in Earnings (Losses) in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	342,389	269,192
Income from unconsolidated entities	$ 56,121	$ (7,040)	$ 1,704