Value of loan applications in process with committed interest rates at the end of the period.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_InterestRateCommittedLoanApplications
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of loan applications in process at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LoanApplicationsInProcess
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Mortgage loans held for sale unpaid principal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LoansHeldForSaleMortgagesUnpaidPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_Note21FairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of days for which loans are committed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_NumberOfDaysInCommittment
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of notes payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in the taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LoanOriginationCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=hov_InterestRateCommittedLoanApplicationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_UnsecuredSeniorNotesExcludingSeniorAmortizingNotesAndSeniorExchangeableNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorSecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorAmortizingNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_SeniorExchangeableNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=hov_The702019NotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loans Held for Sale, Mortgages, Unpaid Principal	$ 122.7	$ 91.2
Other Commitment	26.5
Impairment of Real Estate	7.3	1.2	$ 2.4
Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loan Applications in Process	707.5
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications	60.1
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	689.6	464.4
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	869.4	1,000.0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	12.8	17.0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 69.0	79.6
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure		$ 148.2
Maximum [Member] \| Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Days in Commitment	60 days