Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2009	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 PASERS [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Trust I [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Trust I [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Trust II [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	$ 40,870,000	$ 11,300,000							$ 25,700,000	$ 0	$ 5,300,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 6,000,000		$ 15,200,000	$ 0	$ 0					$ 40,900,000	$ 11,300,000
Aggregate loan commitments									0			39,000,000
Borrowed against loan commitments												35,900,000
Amount due to the company included in the commitments and amount borrowed												18,400,000
Investments in joint ventures	126,355,000		198,442,000	34,651,000	29,250,000	29,100,000			17,098,000	58,551,000		40,700,000			40,500,000	32,000,000			400,000			1,500,000
Contribution of additional funds if required																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
Percentage of the outstanding amount under Completion and conditional repayment guaranties loan which are held by members of the lending syndicate who agreed to the settlement									99.00%
Funding Commitments related to one Development Joint Venture									3,500,000
Owned by an affiliate of PASERS							50.00%
Percentage ownership held by company								50.00%
Development finance and management services recognized during period																			2,900,000	3,100,000	2,100,000
Aggregate exposure with respect to its estimated obligations	60,130,000		88,121,000																				60,100,000
Cumulative impairment charges in connection with joint ventures									97,500,000			63,900,000
Investment in or advanced to development Joint Ventures, net of Impairment charges	17,100,000
Restricted cash held in defeasance account used to repay debt	$ 152,600,000		$ 8,500,000