Note 16 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Tables)
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]
(In thousands)
  
April 30, 2018
    
October 31, 2017
  
                 
Assets:
                
Northeast
   $
168,640
     $
180,545
  
Mid-Atlantic
    
210,238
      
224,398
  
Midwest
    
83,412
      
84,960
  
Southeast
    
244,337
      
231,644
  
Southwest
    
328,521
      
294,337
  
West
    
189,806
      
175,347
  
Total homebuilding
    
1,224,954
      
1,191,231
  
Financial services
    
120,689
      
162,113
  
Corporate and unallocated
    
296,848
      
547,554
  
Total assets
   $
1,642,491
     $
1,900,898
  
Operating Segments [Member]  
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended April 30,
    
Six Months Ended April 30,
  
(In thousands)
  
2018
    
2017
    
2018
    
2017
  
                                 
Revenues:
                                
Northeast
   $
43,771
     $
45,950
     $
63,970
     $
104,525
  
Mid-Atlantic
    
104,160
      
100,600
      
175,457
      
200,826
  
Midwest
    
42,938
      
42,019
      
83,517
      
85,721
  
Southeast
    
60,901
      
56,635
      
117,569
      
113,219
  
Southwest
    
159,147
      
225,255
      
287,452
      
408,664
  
West
    
78,098
      
100,843
      
163,148
      
197,374
  
Total homebuilding
    
489,015
      
571,302
      
891,113
      
1,110,329
  
Financial services
    
13,054
      
14,494
      
23,942
      
27,343
  
Corporate and unallocated (1)
    
475
      
139
      
4,655
      
272
  
Total revenues
   $
502,544
     $
585,935
     $
919,710
     $
1,137,944
  
                                 
Income (loss) before income taxes:
                                
Northeast
   $
5,960
     $
(2,722
)
   $
(3,741
 )   $
(1,816
)
Mid-Atlantic
    
6,700
      
918
      
8,652
      
4,800
  
Midwest
    
(1,110
 )    
(3,170
)
    
(3,454
 )    
(2,458
)
Southeast
    
(5,286
 )    
428
      
(6,947
 )    
134
  
Southwest
    
10,047
      
19,785
      
15,558
      
31,708
  
West
    
7,172
      
2,317
      
15,239
      
1,563
  
Homebuilding income before income taxes
    
23,483
      
17,556
      
25,307
      
33,931
  
Financial services
    
4,256
      
7,134
      
6,803
      
13,128
  
Corporate and unallocated (1)
    
(37,317
 )    
(32,389
)
    
(72,159
 )    
(54,435
)
Loss before income taxes
   $
(9,578
 )   $
(7,699
)
   $
(40,049
 )   $
(7,376
)