Note 18 - Transactions with Related Parties	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [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. We took ownership of the final lots in December 2013, and 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, 2014, 2013, and 2012, 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 $1.2 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 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. 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. John Pellerito, 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. Jovanna Pellerito, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Pellerito, one of our executive officers, was employed by the Company and, in fiscal 2014 and 2013, her total compensation, including salary, commissions and other benefits, totaled approximately $96,000 and $172,000, respectively. Her compensation was commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in her position. Ms. Pellerito left the employ of the Company in May 2014. 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 were incurred in fiscal 2013 and 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, 2014

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. We took ownership of the final lots in December 2013, and 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, 2014, 2013, and 2012, 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 $1.2 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 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.

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. John Pellerito, 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. Jovanna Pellerito, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Pellerito, one of our executive officers, was employed by the Company and, in fiscal 2014 and 2013, her total compensation, including salary, commissions and other benefits, totaled approximately $96,000 and $172,000, respectively. Her compensation was commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in her position. Ms. Pellerito left the employ of the Company in May 2014.

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 were incurred in fiscal 2013 and 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

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