Investments in and Advances To Unconsolidated Entities and Non-Performing Loan Portfolio (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Pasers [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2010 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Trust I [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Loan Participation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Loan Participation [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Impairment Charges			$ 39,600,000								$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 29,600,000					$ 0	$ 0	$ 10,000,000	$ 0					$ 0	$ 0	$ 39,600,000	$ 0
Aggregate loan commitments											327,900,000			327,900,000	69,900,000		69,900,000
Borrowed against loan commitments															65,800,000		65,800,000
Amount due to the company included in the commitments and amount borrowed															18,400,000		18,400,000
Investment and pro rata share of the portfolio earnings	44,000,000		44,000,000
Investments in joint ventures	186,917,000		186,917,000		198,442,000	0	0	29,100,000							40,500,000		40,500,000		39,800,000		39,800,000		11,100,000		11,100,000
Contribution of additional funds if required																			8,300,000		8,300,000
Structured Asset Joint Venture Description								It is a 20% participant with two unrelated parties topurchase a 40% interest in an entity that owns and controls a portfolio of loans and real estate
Completion and conditional repayment guaranties, loan amount											327,900,000			327,900,000
Percentage of the outstanding amount under Completion and conditional repayment guaranties loan														92.80%
Investment in Structured Asset Joint Venture						33,900,000	33,900,000
Acquisitions Of Non performing loans	60.00%		60.00%
Participation Purchase	42,100,000		42,100,000
Funding Commitments related to one Development Joint Venture											3,500,000			3,500,000
Earnings recognized from joint venture	12,055,000	3,171,000	(9,817,000)	4,817,000		3,500,000	4,700,000
Owned by an affiliate of PASERS									50.00%
Percentage ownership held by company										50.00%
Development finance and management services recognized during period																							500,000	600,000	1,600,000	1,600,000
Portfolio Earnings																															700,000	1,200,000
Aggregate exposure with respect to its estimated obligations	64,532,000		64,532,000		88,121,000																						62,500,000		62,500,000
Cumulative impairment charges in connection with current development joint ventures			101,400,000												63,900,000	0	0	0
Investment in or advanced to development Joint Ventures, net of Impairment charges	$ 17,000,000		$ 17,000,000