Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			24 Months Ended	51 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 PASERS [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Development Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 South Edge LLC [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 South Edge LLC [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 South Edge LLC [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 South Edge LLC [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 South Edge LLC [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Condominium Joint Ventures [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Planned Community Joint Venture [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Trust I [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Trust I [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Trust II [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investment in or advanced to development Joint Ventures, net of Impairment charges												$ 8,600,000
Impairment Charges	0	20,000,000									20,000,000				9,600,000	20,000,000			0	0			5,200,000	10,000,000
Cumulative impairment recognized in Investment																	70,300,000	96,000,000
Investments in joint ventures	193,626,000			126,355,000	34,199,000	34,651,000	29,100,000		0	0		8,592,000	17,098,000						119,400,000		76,700,000	30,700,000			300,000		400,000
Contribution of additional funds if required																			37,500,000			8,300,000
Structured Asset Joint Venture Description						It is a 20% participant with two unrelated parties to purchase a 40% interest in an entity that owns and controls a portfolio of loans and real estate
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																									500,000	500,000
Aggregate exposure with respect to its estimated obligations	2,609,000			60,130,000																								2,600,000
Cumulative impairment charges in connection with joint ventures																			63,900,000			15,200,000
Payment for legal settlement	63,200,000		57,600,000
Reverse impairment charge														3,900,000
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities Additional (Textual) [Abstract]
Restricted cash held in defeasance account used to repay debt	$ 165,500,000			$ 152,600,000