Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Activities	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities: In fiscal 2013, a property that we previously acquired when our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us, was foreclosed on by the note holder. As a result, the inventory with a book value of $9.5 million and corresponding non-recourse liability of equal amount were taken off of our balance sheet. In fiscal 2013, 18,305 of our senior exchangeable notes were exchanged for 3,396,102 shares of Class A Common Stock. In fiscal 2013, we entered into a new unconsolidated homebuilding joint venture which resulted in the transfer of an existing receivable from our joint venture partners of $0.6 million at October 31, 2012, to an investment in the joint venture at January 31, 2013. During fiscal 2012, we purchased our partners’ interest in one of our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures. The consolidation of this entity resulted in increases in inventory, other assets, non-recourse land mortgages and accounts payables and other liabilities of $34.3 million, $5.0 million, $20.6 million and $15.8 million, respectively. In fiscal 2012, we completed several debt for equity exchanges and a debt for debt exchange. See Notes 9 and 10 for further information. In fiscal 2011, our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us. The consolidation resulted in increases in inventory and non-recourse land mortgages of $9.5 million and $18.5 million, respectively, and a decrease in other liabilities of $9.0 million.

Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Activities

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:

In fiscal 2013, a property that we previously acquired when our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us, was foreclosed on by the note holder. As a result, the inventory with a book value of $9.5 million and corresponding non-recourse liability of equal amount were taken off of our balance sheet.

In fiscal 2013, 18,305 of our senior exchangeable notes were exchanged for 3,396,102 shares of Class A Common Stock.

In fiscal 2013, we entered into a new unconsolidated homebuilding joint venture which resulted in the transfer of an existing receivable from our joint venture partners of $0.6 million at October 31, 2012, to an investment in the joint venture at January 31, 2013.

During fiscal 2012, we purchased our partners’ interest in one of our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures. The consolidation of this entity resulted in increases in inventory, other assets, non-recourse land mortgages and accounts payables and other liabilities of $34.3 million, $5.0 million, $20.6 million and $15.8 million, respectively.

In fiscal 2012, we completed several debt for equity exchanges and a debt for debt exchange. See Notes 9 and 10 for further information.

In fiscal 2011, our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us. The consolidation resulted in increases in inventory and non-recourse land mortgages of $9.5 million and $18.5 million, respectively, and a decrease in other liabilities of $9.0 million.