Note 18 - Transactions with Related Parties	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]
Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block]	18. Transactions with Related Parties During the year ended October 31, 2003, we entered into an agreement (as subsequently amended) to purchase land in California for approximately $31.4 million from an entity that is owned by Hirair Hovnanian, a family relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. As of October 31, 2013, we had an option deposit of $3.0 million related to this land acquisition agreement. In accordance with ASC 810-10 we no longer have any balances consolidated under “Consolidated inventory not owned” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the land was purchased. During the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, provided services to the Company totaling $0.8 million, $0.9 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided. During the year ended October 31, 2011, a real estate development firm owned by Mazin Kalian, a relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, provided consulting services to the Company totaling less than $0.1 million, including significant travel related expenses. The consulting services consisted primarily of negotiations, community design and cost analysis on a potential joint venture. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no consulting services provided. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has or had a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided. In December 2005, we entered into an agreement to purchase land in New Jersey from an entity that is owned by Hirair Hovnanian, a family relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at a base price of $25 million. The land was to be acquired in four phases over a period of three years from the date of acquisition of the first phase and the land seller was obligated to obtain all government approvals. The purchase prices for all phases were subject to an increase in the purchase price of the phase per annum from February 1, 2008. On June 11, 2008, the parties amended the purchase agreement and closed title to 43 of the 86 building lots in phase one. The purchase of the balance of phase one was deferred to no later than the scheduled closing of phase four. On November 12, 2009, the parties closed title to 83 building lots located in phase two. On June 22, 2010, the parties closed title to 84 building lots located in phase three. On June 13, 2011, the parties closed title to the 137 building lots, which included the building lots contained within phase four and the deferred balance of building lots from phase one. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, all of the property under the purchase agreement had been purchased by the Company for a total purchase price of approximately $29.2 million. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has or had a financial interest in the relatives' company from whom the land was purchased. In November 2012, one of our joint ventures in which the Company has a 50% interest sold an option to acquire a parcel of land for approximately $5.5 million. The total cost to the buyer was approximately $11.1 million and on which the commission was paid. The son of Mr. Pellerito, one of the Company’s executive officers, was employed by the brokerage firm that handled the transaction and received $145,710 as a commission in connection with the transaction. Mr. Pellerito did not have a financial interest in the brokerage firm involved in the transaction nor did he receive any portion of the commission paid to his son. Ms. Jovana Pellerito, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Pellerito, one of our executive officers, is employed by the Company and, in fiscal 2013, her total compensation, including salary, commissions and other benefits, totaled approximately $172,000. Her compensation is commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in her position. The Company has a significant interest in the amount of estate tax liabilities and any necessary sales by the Estate of Kevork S. Hovnanian, deceased, and other members of the Hovnanian family of their assets (which includes a significant amount of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) to pay such liabilities because the benefit of federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) to the Company would be significantly reduced or eliminated if we were to experience an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Based on recent impairments and current financial performance, the Company has generated NOLs of approximately $1.5 billion through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013, and may generate NOLs in future years. During fiscal 2013, an outside law firm was retained to advise the Executors of the Estate and other members of the Hovnanian family in connection with estate tax planning. The fees and other charges of such legal services during fiscal 2013 totaled $249,653, of which (1) the Company and (2) the Estate and Hovnanian family each paid half. Kevork S. Hovnanian was the founder and former Chairman of our Company. Our current Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other members of his immediate family are Executors and among the beneficiaries of the will of Kevork S. Hovnanian.

Note 18 - Transactions with Related Parties

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block]

18. Transactions with Related Parties

During the year ended October 31, 2003, we entered into an agreement (as subsequently amended) to purchase land in California for approximately $31.4 million from an entity that is owned by Hirair Hovnanian, a family relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. As of October 31, 2013, we had an option deposit of $3.0 million related to this land acquisition agreement. In accordance with ASC 810-10 we no longer have any balances consolidated under “Consolidated inventory not owned” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the land was purchased.

During the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, provided services to the Company totaling $0.8 million, $0.9 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided.

During the year ended October 31, 2011, a real estate development firm owned by Mazin Kalian, a relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, provided consulting services to the Company totaling less than $0.1 million, including significant travel related expenses. The consulting services consisted primarily of negotiations, community design and cost analysis on a potential joint venture. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no consulting services provided. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has or had a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided.

In December 2005, we entered into an agreement to purchase land in New Jersey from an entity that is owned by Hirair Hovnanian, a family relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at a base price of $25 million. The land was to be acquired in four phases over a period of three years from the date of acquisition of the first phase and the land seller was obligated to obtain all government approvals. The purchase prices for all phases were subject to an increase in the purchase price of the phase per annum from February 1, 2008. On June 11, 2008, the parties amended the purchase agreement and closed title to 43 of the 86 building lots in phase one. The purchase of the balance of phase one was deferred to no later than the scheduled closing of phase four. On November 12, 2009, the parties closed title to 83 building lots located in phase two. On June 22, 2010, the parties closed title to 84 building lots located in phase three. On June 13, 2011, the parties closed title to the 137 building lots, which included the building lots contained within phase four and the deferred balance of building lots from phase one. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, all of the property under the purchase agreement had been purchased by the Company for a total purchase price of approximately $29.2 million. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has or had a financial interest in the relatives' company from whom the land was purchased.

In November 2012, one of our joint ventures in which the Company has a 50% interest sold an option to acquire a parcel of land for approximately $5.5 million. The total cost to the buyer was approximately $11.1 million and on which the commission was paid. The son of Mr. Pellerito, one of the Company’s executive officers, was employed by the brokerage firm that handled the transaction and received $145,710 as a commission in connection with the transaction. Mr. Pellerito did not have a financial interest in the brokerage firm involved in the transaction nor did he receive any portion of the commission paid to his son.

Ms. Jovana Pellerito, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Pellerito, one of our executive officers, is employed by the Company and, in fiscal 2013, her total compensation, including salary, commissions and other benefits, totaled approximately $172,000. Her compensation is commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in her position.

The Company has a significant interest in the amount of estate tax liabilities and any necessary sales by the Estate of Kevork S. Hovnanian, deceased, and other members of the Hovnanian family of their assets (which includes a significant amount of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) to pay such liabilities because the benefit of federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) to the Company would be significantly reduced or eliminated if we were to experience an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Based on recent impairments and current financial performance, the Company has generated NOLs of approximately $1.5 billion through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013, and may generate NOLs in future years. During fiscal 2013, an outside law firm was retained to advise the Executors of the Estate and other members of the Hovnanian family in connection with estate tax planning. The fees and other charges of such legal services during fiscal 2013 totaled $249,653, of which (1) the Company and (2) the Estate and Hovnanian family each paid half. Kevork S. Hovnanian was the founder and former Chairman of our Company. Our current Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other members of his immediate family are Executors and among the beneficiaries of the will of Kevork S. Hovnanian.