Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation - The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and include Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.’s (“HEI”) accounts and those of all its consolidated subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions. HEI’s fiscal year ends October 31. Noncontrolling interest represents the proportionate equity interest in a consolidated joint venture that is not 100% owned by the Company. One of HEI's subsidiaries owns a 99% controlling interest in the consolidated joint venture and therefore HEI is required to consolidate the joint venture within its Consolidated Financial Statements. The 1% that we do not own is accounted for as noncontrolling interest. Reclassifications - Effective October 31, 2018 we early adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016 - 18 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230 ): Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016 - 18” ). As a result, restricted cash amounts are no longer shown within the operating and investing activities as these balances are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The adoption also resulted in the reclassification of restricted cash in operating and investing activities of $4.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for the year ended October 31, 2017. These amounts are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances for the respective periods. See also the reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Reverse Stock Split – As discussed in Note 14, in March 2019, the Company's stockholders approved and the Board of Directors determined to effectuate a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock at a ratio of 1 -for- 25, and a corresponding decrease in the number of authorized shares of the common stock. The Reverse Stock Split became effective on March 29, 2019, and every 25 issued shares (including treasury shares) of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), were combined into one share of Class A Common Stock, and every 25 issued shares (including treasury shares) of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), were combined into one share of Class B Common Stock. All share and per share amounts throughout this report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

Basis of Presentation

- The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and include Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.’s (“HEI”) accounts and those of all its consolidated subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions. HEI’s fiscal year ends

October 31.

Noncontrolling interest represents the proportionate equity interest in a consolidated joint venture that is

not

100%

owned by the Company. One of HEI's subsidiaries owns a

99%

controlling interest in the consolidated joint venture and therefore HEI is required to consolidate the joint venture within its Consolidated Financial Statements. The

that we do

not

own is accounted for as noncontrolling interest.

Reclassifications

Effective

October 31, 2018

we early adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)

2016

“Statement of Cash Flows (Topic

230

): Restricted Cash” (“ASU

2016

18”

). As a result, restricted cash amounts are

longer shown within the operating and investing activities as these balances are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The adoption also resulted in the reclassification of restricted cash in operating and investing activities of

$4.0

million and

$2.6

million, respectively, for the year ended

October 31, 2017.

These amounts are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances for the respective periods. See also the reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Reverse Stock Split

– As discussed in Note

14,

March 2019,

the Company's stockholders approved and the Board of Directors determined to effectuate a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock at a ratio of

-for-

25,

and a corresponding decrease in the number of authorized shares of the common stock. The Reverse Stock Split became effective on

March 29, 2019,

and every

issued shares (including treasury shares) of Class A Common Stock, par value

$0.01

per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), were combined into

one

share of Class A Common Stock, and every

issued shares (including treasury shares) of Class B Common Stock, par value

$0.01

per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), were combined into

one

share of Class B Common Stock. All share and per share amounts throughout this report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.