Aggregate annual retention for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Annual deductible for bodily injury claims.

+ References

No definition available.

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The limit on our deductible for bodily injury claims.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum number of days of maturity for cash deposited in checking accounts, overnight repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, Treasury Bills and government money market funds, to be considered cash and cash equivalents.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Annual deductible under our general liability insurance per occurrence for construction defects and warranty claims on homes delivered.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The net book value of mothballed communities at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The amount of impairment charges recorded to date on our mothballed communities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Inventory not owned required to be recorded as a financing in accordance with current accounting standards.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Inventory under option that it is required to be purchased in the future based on the specific performance terms of the option agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Voting interest percentage in the joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Includes the liabilities for the inventory for which we do not have title related to the remaining exercise price of land and lot option purchases contracts; variable interest entities when we are the primary beneficiary; and model sale leaseback financing arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of mothballed communities at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of mothballed communities reactivated.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents planned construction cycle for the development, construction, marketing and sale of residential single-family and multi-family homes.

+ References

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of shares of prepaid common stock purchase contracts included in the basic earnings per share calculations, which are issuable in the future with no additional cash required to be paid by the holders thereof.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hov_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 720
-SubTopic 35
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4)
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of recoveries of receivables doubtful of collection that were previously charged off.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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-SubTopic 10
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

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-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of parcels of land held for sale, and on which the entity has no intention or no further intention to perform construction activities.

+ References

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

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-SubTopic 10
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2006 USD ($)
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Planned Construction Cycle	12 months
Cash Equivalents Policy Number of Days	90 days
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 15,800,000	$ 15,400,000		$ 15,800,000
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated	14
Number of Communities Mothballed	31	45		31
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities	$ 103,000,000	$ 103,300,000		$ 103,000,000
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges	334,500,000	412,400,000		334,500,000
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options	1,200,000	3,500,000		1,200,000
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	1,200,000	3,400,000		1,200,000
Inventory, Land Held-for-sale	1,300,000	600,000		1,300,000
General Liability Insurance, Deductible	20,000,000	20,000,000		20,000,000
Bodily Injury Insurance, Deductible	250,000	250,000		250,000
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	$ 21,000,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	0	$ 0
Advertising Expense	21,000,000	21,500,000	$ 17,200,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	7,600,000	13,800,000		7,600,000
Provision for Doubtful Accounts	700,000	400,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Recoveries	900,000	$ 1,300,000
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts, Shares Included in Basic Earnings Per Share (in Shares) \| shares		6.1
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options	1,242,000	$ 3,479,000		1,242,000
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	105,856,000	92,381,000		105,856,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	120,983,000	105,374,000		120,983,000
Homebuilding [Member] \| Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	87,900,000	64,900,000		87,900,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	95,900,000	70,400,000		95,900,000
Homebuilding [Member] \| Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	16,800,000	24,100,000		16,800,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	$ 25,100,000	35,000,000		$ 25,100,000
Warranty Claims [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable		$ 6,000,000
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		7.25%
Exchangeable Note Units [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Minimum [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.30%	16.80%	18.00%	16.80%
Maximum [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Joint Venture, Voting Interest Percentage	50.00%
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	40 years
Maximum [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	19.80%	17.30%	19.30%	19.80%