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Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 24 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2013
Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Oct. 31, 2013
Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Oct. 31, 2013
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Feb. 09, 2011
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Oct. 31, 2013
The 6.00% Exchangable Note Units [Member]
Oct. 31, 2013
Maximum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Oct. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]                        
Planned Construction Cycle                   12 months    
Cash Equivalents Policy, Number of Days 90 days                      
Components of Inventory 3                      
Number of Communities Mothballed During the Period 1                      
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated 3                      
Number of Mothball Communities Sold 1                      
Number of Communities Mothballed 50                      
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities $ 115,900,000                      
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges 431,600,000                      
Inventory Real Estate Specific Permance Options 800,000                      
Reclassification of Inventory to Consolidated Inventory Not Owned         47,600,000 52,400,000            
Increase in Liability From Consolidated Inventory Not Owned         45,700,000 41,400,000            
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate                   19.80%   16.80%
Inventory Real Estate Land Held-for-Sale 2,700,000                      
General Liability Insurance, Deductible 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000                
Bodily Injury Insurance, Deductible 250,000 100,000 100,000                  
Bodily Injury Insurance, Limit 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000                  
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims 21,000,000 21,000,000 21,000,000                  
Joint Venture Voting Interest Percentage                   50.00%    
Advertising Expense 17,200,000 18,200,000 20,300,000                  
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives                   40   3
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable 14,700,000 8,200,000 8,200,000                  
Provision for Doubtful Accounts 7,400,000 7,700,000                    
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Write-offs                   100,000 100,000  
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Recoveries $ 800,000                      
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts, Shares Included in Basic Earnings Per Share (in Shares) 6,100,000           6,100,000          
Tangible Equity Units, Number of Shares Upon Conversion, Per Unit (in Shares)                   5.8140   4.7655
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage               7.25% 6.00%