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Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 14 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 14 Months Ended 72 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 72 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Jul. 31, 2012
Apr. 30, 2012
Jan. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2011
Jul. 31, 2011
Apr. 30, 2011
Oct. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2011
Oct. 31, 2010
Oct. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2011
Apr. 11, 2012
Mar. 15, 2011
Feb. 09, 2011
Oct. 31, 2012
Initial [Member]
From Note Exchange [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
Stock Options [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
From Note Exchange [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
Pursuant to the Over-allotment Option [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Common Class A [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
Common Class A [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Common Class B [Member]
Jul. 31, 2005
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Jul. 12, 2005
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Maximum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Minimum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Minimum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Oct. 02, 2012
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Aug. 08, 2005
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Feb. 27, 2006
7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Jun. 12, 2006
8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
12.072% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2011
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Oct. 30, 2011
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Feb. 14, 2011
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Feb. 09, 2011
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Feb. 09, 2011
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Feb. 14, 2010
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Planned Construction Cycle                                                                     12 months   12 months                                          
Cash Equivalents Policy, Number of Days 90 days             90 days                                                                                                    
Components of Inventory 3             3                                                                                                    
Number of Communities Mothballed 53             53                                                                                                    
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities $ 124,200,000             $ 124,200,000                                                                                                    
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges 467,800,000             467,800,000                                                                                                    
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period               1                                                                                                    
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated               2                                                                                                    
Number of Mothballed Communities Sold               5                                                                                                    
Reclassification of Inventory to Consolidated Inventory Not Owned                                                   33,700,000 56,900,000                                                              
Increase in Liability from Consolidated Inventory Not Owned                                                   32,900,000 44,800,000                                                              
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate                                                                     18.50%   20.30% 16.80% 16.80%                                      
Inventory, Real Estate, Land Held For Sale 4,400,000             4,400,000                                                                                                    
General Liability Insurance Deductible 20,000,000             20,000,000                                                                                                    
Bodily Injury Insurance Deductible 100,000             100,000                                                                                                    
Bodily Injury Insurance Limit 5,000,000             5,000,000                                                                                                    
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims 21,000,000             21,000,000                                                                                                    
Joint Venture, Voting Interest, Percentage                                                                     50.00%   50.00%                                          
Per Occurence Threshold to Accrue Warranty Costs to Cost of Sales 5,000             5,000                                                     5,000   5,000                                          
Per Occurence Threshold to Accrue Warranty Costs to S, G and A 5,000             5,000                                                           5,000 5,000                                      
Advertising Expense               18,200,000 20,300,000 18,200,000                                                                                                
Number of Votes                                                           1   10                                                    
Common Stock Dividends, Percent of Increase from Class A to Class B 110.00%             110.00%                                                                                                    
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)               25,000,000                                         1,762,500   13,512,500                                                      
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)                         $ 2.00   $ 4.30                                                                                      
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues               47,324,000 54,899,000                                                                                                  
Face Amount of Debt Repurchased               75,400,000                                                                                                    
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other (in Shares)                                                           8,443,713                                                        
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount (in Dollars) 33,200,000             33,200,000           60,100,000                                                   7,800,000       4,000,000     18,300,000     3,100,000   24,600,000            
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                                               6.25% 10.625% 6.25% 6.25% 7.50% 7.50% 7.50% 8.625% 8.625% 8.625% 12.072% 11.875% 11.875% 11.875% 11.875% 11.875%   7.25% 7.25%
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt (in Dollars) (87,033,000) 6,230,000 27,039,000 24,698,000 10,563,000 (1,391,000) (1,644,000) (29,066,000) 7,528,000 25,047,000 41,300,000         9,500,000                       200,000                                                            
Shareholder Ownership Percentage 4.90%             4.90%                                                           5.00% 5.00%                                      
Shareholder Ownership, Percentage of Increase 50.00%             50.00%                                                                                                    
Number of Rights 1             1                                                                                                    
Shareholder, Percent of Stock Acquired 4.90%             4.90%                                                                                                    
Shareholders Pre Existing Ownership Percentage 5.00%             5.00%                                                                                                    
Shareholders Current Ownership Percentage 5.00%             5.00%                                                                                                    
Shareholders Ownership Percentage on Transfers 5.00%             5.00%                                                                                                    
Shareholders Ownership Percentage Threshold 5.00%             5.00%                                                                                                    
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased (in Shares) 4,000,000             4,000,000                                                                                                    
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Repurchased (in Shares) 3,500,000             3,500,000                                                                                                    
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares (in Shares)               100,000                                                                                                    
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued (in Shares) 5,600       5,600     5,600 5,600                                                 5,600                                                
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage               7.625%                                                 7.625%                                                  
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share (in Dollars per share) $ 140,000       $ 140,000     $ 140,000 $ 140,000                                                 $ 25,000                                                
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives                                                                     40     3                                        
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable 8,200,000       600,000     8,200,000 600,000                                                                                                  
Provision for Doubtful Accounts               7,700,000       100,000                                                                                            
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Charge-offs                                                                     100,000 100,000                                            
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Recoveries                       700,000                                                                                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate                                 1.65% 2.99% 3.24%                                                                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate                                 0.00%                                                                                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate                                 0.97%   0.90%                                                                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term                                 7 years 135 days   7 years 43 days                                                                              
Share-based Compensation, Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Estimated Forfeiture Rate                                 15.99%   13.42%                                                                              
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense               6,500,000 6,200,000 8,700,000                                                                                                
Share-based Compensation (in Dollars)               $ 6,453,000 $ 6,219,000 $ 8,706,000             $ 4,100,000 $ 4,400,000 $ 5,000,000                                                                              
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts, Shares Included in Basic Earnings Per Share (in Shares)                                                                                                               8,800,000    
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in Shares)                                       200,000 300,000 18,600,000 2,500,000 5,100,000 4,600,000                                                                  
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements (in Shares)                   1,000,000