Accrued Expenses
 3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]  
Accrued Expenses
Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses at January 31, 2014 and October 31, 2013 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
 
January 31,
2014
 
October 31,
2013
Land, land development and construction
$
135,523

 
$
152,674

Compensation and employee benefits
107,080

 
111,561

Insurance and litigation
91,820

 
89,104

Warranty
42,688

 
43,819

Interest
46,500

 
25,675

Commitments to unconsolidated entities
4,260

 
3,804

Other
88,226

 
96,350

 
$
516,097

 
$
522,987


The Company accrues for expected warranty costs at the time each home is closed and title and possession are transferred to the home buyer. Warranty costs are accrued based upon historical experience. The table below provides, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the changes in the Company’s warranty accrual (amounts in thousands):
 
Three months ended January 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Balance, beginning of period
$
43,819

 
$
41,706

Additions – homes closed during the period
3,097

 
2,289

Increase (decrease) in accruals for homes closed in prior periods
344

 
(267
)
Charges incurred
(4,572
)
 
(2,487
)
Balance, end of period
$
42,688

 
$
41,241