Information on Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2022	Oct. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2021
Revenues
Revenues	$ 1,791,081		$ 1,563,376
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	200,816		127,405
Total assets
Total assets	11,283,879	$ 11,537,850
Inventory Write-down	2,233		1,267
Proceeds from sale of golf club property	0		79,356
Gain on disposition of assets	0		38,279
Corporate and other [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	(1,427)		269
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	(34,942)		(48,032)
Total assets
Total assets	1,967,590	2,876,730
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,649,007		1,402,642
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	223,041		142,745
Total assets
Total assets	9,002,197	8,328,148
Inventory Write-down	1,033		167
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	39,772		7,793
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	12,717		32,692
Total assets
Total assets	314,092	332,972
Inventory Write-down	1,200		1,100
North [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	315,362		312,639
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	31,539		18,882
Total assets
Total assets	1,407,992	1,357,168
Inventory Write-down	325		35
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	242,877		163,984
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	33,425		18,813
Total assets
Total assets	1,052,923	976,887
Inventory Write-down	441		32
South [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	243,519		216,884
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	22,532		21,483
Total assets
Total assets	1,662,383	1,421,612
Inventory Write-down	143		25
Mountain [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	462,300		377,977
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	71,011		36,013
Total assets
Total assets	2,624,647	2,397,484
Inventory Write-down	102		9
Pacific [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes			47,554
Pacific [Member] | Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	384,949		331,158
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	64,534
Total assets
Total assets	2,254,252	2,174,997
Inventory Write-down	22		66
Home Building [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	1,687,352		1,410,704
Land [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 103,729		$ 152,672
Land [Member] | City Living [Member]
Total assets
Proceeds from sale of golf club property		82,400
Gain on disposition of assets		$ 38,300