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_Note20FairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetailsLineItems
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

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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_InterestRateCommittedMember
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_The702019NotesMember
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_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loans Held for Sale, Mortgages, Unpaid Principal	$ 105,400,000		$ 105,400,000		$ 91,200,000
Other Commitment	26,500,000		26,500,000
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Nonrecurring	0		0
Impairment of Real Estate	0	$ 100,000	4,400,000	$ 200,000
Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loan Applications in Process	738,900,000		738,900,000
Interest Rate Committed [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications	86,200,000		86,200,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	676,600,000		676,600,000		464,400,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	132,000,000		132,000,000		148,200,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	964,000,000		964,000,000		1,000,000,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	12,800,000		12,800,000		17,000,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 67,700,000		$ 67,700,000		$ 79,600,000
Maximum [Member] \| Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 20 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Days in Commitment			60 days