Inventory (Details 1) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2011 Community	Oct. 31, 2010 Community	Oct. 31, 2009 Community
Land owned for future communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities	43	36	16
Carrying Value	$ 256,468,000	$ 212,882,000	$ 75,942,000
Operating Communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities	2	13	16
Carrying Value	$ 11,076,000	$ 78,100,000	$ 91,477,000