Information on Geographic Segments (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 2009	Apr. 30, 2009	Jan. 31, 2009	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Inventory
Inventory impairments													$ 51,837	$ 115,258	$ 465,411
Inventory	3,416,723				3,241,725								3,416,723	3,241,725
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	126,355				198,442								126,355	198,442
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													40,870		11,300
Land Controlled for Future Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													17,752	6,069	28,518
Inventory	46,581				31,899								46,581	31,899
Operating Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments	710	175	10,725	5,475	9,119	6,600	15,020	22,750	44,873	46,822	67,410	108,300	17,085	53,489	267,405
Inventory	2,390,997				2,285,854								2,390,997	2,285,854
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													17,000	55,700	169,488
Inventory	979,145				923,972								979,145	923,972
North [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	40,800				47,600								40,800	47,600
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													0		6,000
North [Member] | Land Controlled for Future Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													900	4,000	17,300
Inventory	19,400				3,600								19,400	3,600
North [Member] | Operating Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													2,900	9,600	77,100
Inventory	738,500				685,300								738,500	685,300
North [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments														15,900	51,000
Inventory	231,100				208,500								231,100	208,500
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land Controlled for Future Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													300	(100)	7,800
Inventory	21,600				14,800								21,600	14,800
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Operating Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													3,700	2,100	28,000
Inventory	659,100				662,400								659,100	662,400
Mid-Atlantic [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													300	9,000	23,800
Inventory	455,800				452,900								455,800	452,900
South [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	32,000				51,700								32,000	51,700
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													15,200
South [Member] | Land Controlled for Future Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													300	(200)	400
Inventory	3,800				11,000								3,800	11,000
South [Member] | Operating Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													3,800	23,400	51,200
Inventory	539,600				443,300								539,600	443,300
South [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													16,700	14,000	1,200
Inventory	125,400				119,800								125,400	119,800
West [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	17,100				58,500								17,100	58,500
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													25,700		5,300
West [Member] | Land Controlled for Future Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													16,200	2,400	3,000
Inventory	1,800				2,500								1,800	2,500
West [Member] | Operating Communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments													6,700	18,400	111,100
Inventory	453,800				494,800								453,800	494,800
West [Member] | Land owned for future communities [Member]
Inventory
Inventory impairments														16,800	93,500
Inventory	166,800				142,800								166,800	142,800
Corporate and other [Member]
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	36,500				40,600								36,500	40,600
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities													$ 0