Note 16 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details Textual)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Jul. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization [1],[2] $ 26,088   $ 22,297 $ 55,219 $ 44,924
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total (1,440) $ (42,300) (242) (1,440) 7,404
Qualifying Assets Not Exceeding Debt [Member]          
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization 19,900   16,000 39,500 29,300
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]          
General and Administrative Expense, Total 16,200   16,100 35,300 31,700
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total (1,400)   (200) (1,400) 7,400
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total (100)   100 (4,000) 800
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Qualifying Assets Not Exceeding Debt [Member]          
Real Estate Inventory Expense Not Eligible for Capitalization $ 19,900   $ 16,000 $ 39,500 $ 29,300
Homebuilding [Member]          
Number of Reportable Segments       6  
[1] Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest on notes payable, which is calculated as follows: 8 Table of Contents Three Months Ended April 30, Six Months Ended April 30, (In thousands) 2018 2017 2018 2017 Other interest expensed $ 26,088 $ 22,297 $ 55,219 $ 44,924 Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries 585 455 1,186 1,084 (Increase) decrease in accrued interest (23,448 ) 591 3,302 1,354 Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest $ 3,225 $ 23,343 $ 59,707 $ 47,362
[2] Other interest expensed includes interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt, which amounted to $19.9 million and $16.0 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $39.5 million and $29.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Other interest also includes interest on completed homes, land in planning and fully developed lots without homes under construction, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed. This component of other interest was $6.2 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $15.8 million and $15.6 million for the six months ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.