Note 17 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Tables)
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018
Notes Tables  
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]
(Dollars in thousands)
  
April 30, 2018
  
   
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
Assets:
                        
Cash and cash equivalents
   $
31,166
     $
2,414
     $
33,580
  
Inventories
    
651,968
      
6,923
      
658,891
  
Other assets
    
29,695
      
-
      
29,695
  
Total assets
   $
712,829
     $
9,337
     $
722,166
  
                         
Liabilities and equity:
                        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   $
96,770
     $
504
     $
97,274
  
Notes payable
    
371,382
      
-
      
371,382
  
Total liabilities
    
468,152
      
504
      
468,656
  
Equity of:
                        
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
    
79,690
      
3,914
      
83,604
  
Others
    
164,987
      
4,919
      
169,906
  
Total equity
    
244,677
      
8,833
      
253,510
  
Total liabilities and equity
   $
712,829
     $
9,337
     $
722,166
  
Debt to capitalization ratio
    
60
%
    
0
%
    
59
%
(Dollars in thousands)
  
October 31, 2017
  
   
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
Assets:
                        
Cash and cash equivalents
   $
60,580
     $
194
     $
60,774
  
Inventories
    
666,017
      
9,162
      
675,179
  
Other assets
    
36,026
      
-
      
36,026
  
Total assets
   $
762,623
     $
9,356
     $
771,979
  
                         
Liabilities and equity:
                        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   $
121,646
     $
429
     $
122,075
  
Notes payable
    
330,642
      
-
      
330,642
  
Total liabilities
    
452,288
      
429
      
452,717
  
Equity of:
                        
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
    
88,884
      
3,746
      
92,630
  
Others
    
221,451
      
5,181
      
226,632
  
Total equity
    
310,335
      
8,927
      
319,262
  
Total liabilities and equity
   $
762,623
     $
9,356
     $
771,979
  
Debt to capitalization ratio
    
52
%
    
0
%
    
51
%
   
For the Three Months Ended April 30, 2018
  
(In thousands)
  
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
                         
Revenues
   $
96,931
     $
2,343
     $
99,274
  
Cost of sales and expenses
    
(102,230
 )    
(2,123
 )    
(104,353
 )
Joint venture net (loss) income
   $
(5,299
 )   $
220
     $
(5,079
 )
Our share of net income
   $
1,296
     $
109
     $
1,405
  
   
For the Three Months Ended April 30, 2017
  
(In thousands)
  
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
                         
Revenues
   $
86,556
     $
1,658
     $
88,214
  
Cost of sales and expenses
    
(87,957
)
    
(1,841
)
    
(89,798
)
Joint venture net loss
   $
(1,401
)
   $
(183
)
   $
(1,584
)
Our share of net loss
   $
(4,583
)
   $
(92
)
   $
(4,675
)
   
For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2018
  
(In thousands)
  
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
                         
Revenues
   $
155,496
     $
3,618
     $
159,114
  
Cost of sales and expenses
    
(174,366
 )    
(3,281
 )    
(177,647
 )
Joint venture net (loss) income
   $
(18,870
 )   $
337
     $
(18,533
 )
Our share of net (loss) income
   $
(3,903
 )   $
168
     $
(3,735
 )
   
For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2017
  
(In thousands)
  
Homebuilding
    
Land
Development
    
Total
  
                         
Revenues
   $
151,493
     $
2,860
     $
154,353
  
Cost of sales and expenses
    
(155,183
)
    
(2,823
)
    
(158,006
)
Joint venture net (loss) income
   $
(3,690
)
   $
37
     $
(3,653
)
Our share of net (loss) income
   $
(6,264
)
   $
18
     $
(6,246
)