Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV) 10-K 18 Dec 15 2015 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Dec. 14, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC
Trading Symbol	hov
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Public Float			$ 373,542,676
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	357,294
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,985,081
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		131,532,118

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 253,745	$ 261,898
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	26,500	29,300
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Specific performance options	1,200	3,500
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	61,209	63,883
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,534	46,744
Total assets	2,602,298	2,289,930
Financial services:
Income taxes receivable – including net deferred tax benefits (Note 11)	290,279	284,543
Homebuilding:
Liabilities from inventory not owned	1,200	3,400
Total liabilities	2,730,382	2,407,729
Notes payable:
Revolving credit agreement	47,000
Accrued interest	40,388	32,222
Total notes payable	1,935,635	1,689,779
Stockholders' equity deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at October 31, 2015 and 2014	135,299	135,299
Paid in capital - common stock	703,751	697,943
Accumulated deficit	(853,364)	(837,264)
Treasury stock - at cost	(115,360)	(115,360)
Total stockholders' equity deficit	(128,084)	(117,799)
Total liabilities and equity	2,602,298	2,289,930
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	245,398	255,117
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	7,299	13,086
Inventories:
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	1,307,850	961,994
Land and land options held for future development or sale	214,503	273,463
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Specific performance options	1,242	3,479
Other options	120,983	105,374
Total consolidated inventory not owned	122,225	108,853
Total inventories	1,644,578	1,344,310
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	61,209	63,883
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	70,349	92,546
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,534	46,744
Prepaid expenses and other assets	77,671	69,358
Total assets	2,152,038	1,885,044
Homebuilding:
Liabilities from inventory not owned	105,856	92,381
Total liabilities	657,964	618,753
Accounts payable and other liabilities	348,516	370,876
Customers’ deposits	44,218	34,969
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	8,347	6,781
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	19,223	16,236
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Total assets	159,981	120,343
Financial services:
Mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	130,320	95,338
Other assets	2,091	1,988
Homebuilding:
Total liabilities	136,783	99,197
Accounts payable and other liabilities	27,908	22,278
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	108,875	76,919
Common Class A [Member]
Stockholders' equity deficit:
Common stock	1,433	1,428
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders' equity deficit:
Common stock	157	155
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	981,346	979,935
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	780,319	590,472
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	12,811	17,049
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	73,771	70,101
Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Secured debt	143,863	103,908
Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Operating Properties [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Secured debt	$ 15,511	$ 16,619

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Preferred stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000	100,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	5,600	5,600
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in Dollars)	$ 140,000	$ 140,000
Preferred stock, outstanding	5,600	5,600
Common Class A [Member]
Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	143,292,881	142,836,563
Common stock, shares held in Treasury	11,760,763	11,760,763
Common Class B [Member]
Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000,000	60,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	15,676,829	15,497,543
Common stock, shares held in Treasury	691,748	691,748

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Homebuilding:
Total homebuilding		$ 2,148,480	$ 2,063,380	$ 1,851,253
Total revenues		2,148,480	2,063,380	1,851,253
Homebuilding:
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs		12,044	5,224	4,965
Corporate general and administrative		62,506	63,375	54,357
Other interest	[1],[2]	91,835	87,378	91,344
Other operations		6,003	4,647	790
Total expenses		2,174,414	2,049,942	1,840,598
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(1,155)	(760)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures		4,169	7,897	12,040
(Loss) income before income taxes		(21,765)	20,180	21,935
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision:
Tax provision (benefit)		(5,665)	(286,964)	(9,360)
Net (loss) income		$ (16,100)	$ 307,144	$ 31,295
Basic:
(Loss) income per common share (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.11)	$ 2.05	$ 0.22
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)		146,899	146,271	145,087
Assuming dilution:
(Loss) income per common share (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.11)	$ 1.87	$ 0.22
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)		146,899	162,441	162,329
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Sale of homes		$ 2,088,129	$ 2,013,013	$ 1,784,327
Land sales and other revenues		3,686	7,953	19,199
Total homebuilding		2,091,815	2,020,966	1,803,526
Total revenues		2,091,930	2,021,128	1,803,657
Homebuilding:
Cost of sales, excluding interest		1,722,038	1,615,199	1,442,044
Cost of sales interest		59,613	53,966	52,230
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs		12,044	5,224	4,965
Total cost of sales		1,793,695	1,674,389	1,499,239
Selling, general and administrative		188,403	191,537	165,809
Total homebuilding expenses		1,982,098	1,865,926	1,665,048
Total expenses		2,142,442	2,021,326	1,811,539
(Loss) income before income taxes		71,663	139,336	135,489
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Total homebuilding		56,665	42,414	47,727
Financial services		56,665	42,414	47,727
Total revenues		56,665	42,414	47,727
Homebuilding:
Financial services		31,972	28,616	29,059
Total expenses		31,972	28,616	29,059
(Loss) income before income taxes		24,693	13,798	18,668
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision:
Tax provision (benefit)		(9,958)	(274,512)	(9,878)
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision:
Tax provision (benefit)		$ 4,293	$ (12,452)	$ 518
[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:
[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. Also includes interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed.

Consolidated Statements of Equi

Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Common Class A [Member]Common Stock [Member]	Common Class B [Member]Common Stock [Member]
Balance at Oct. 31, 2012	$ (485,345)	$ 135,299	$ 668,735	$ (1,175,703)	$ (115,360)	$ 230	$ 1,300	$ 154
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2012		5,600					118,294,541	14,658,353
Stock options, amortization and issuances	$ 4,169		4,169
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	44,812						44,812
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	$ 2,609		2,608				$ 1
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)							123,840
Settlement of prepaid Class A Common Stock purchase contracts			(27)				$ 27
Settlement of prepaid Class A Common Stock purchase contracts (in Shares)							2,683,679
Exchange of senior exchangeable notes for Class A Common Stock	14,276		14,242				$ 34
Exchange of senior exchangeable notes for Class A Common Stock (in Shares)							3,396,102
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock							$ 1	$ (1)
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)							2,486	(2,486)
Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	197					197
Net (loss) income	31,295			31,295
Balance at Oct. 31, 2013	(432,799)	$ 135,299	689,727	(1,144,408)	(115,360)	427	$ 1,363	$ 153
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2013		5,600					124,545,460	14,655,867
Stock options, amortization and issuances	$ 3,701		3,700				$ 1
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	42,375						42,375
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	$ 4,582		4,576				$ 4	$ 2
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)							400,751	151,918
Settlement of prepaid Class A Common Stock purchase contracts			(60)				$ 60
Settlement of prepaid Class A Common Stock purchase contracts (in Shares)							6,085,224
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)							1,990	(1,990)
Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	(427)					$ (427)
Net (loss) income	307,144			307,144
Balance at Oct. 31, 2014	(117,799)	$ 135,299	697,943	(837,264)	(115,360)		$ 1,428	$ 155
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2014		5,600					131,075,800	14,805,795
Stock options, amortization and issuances	$ 723		723
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	18,125						18,125
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	$ 5,092		5,085				$ 5	$ 2
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)							438,093	179,386
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)							100	(100)
Net (loss) income	(16,100)			(16,100)
Balance at Oct. 31, 2015	$ (128,084)	$ 135,299	$ 703,751	$ (853,364)	$ (115,360)		$ 1,433	$ 157
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2015		5,600					131,532,118	14,985,081

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (16,100)	$ 307,144	$ 31,295
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	3,388	3,417	4,712
Compensation from stock options and awards	8,816	10,279	6,842
Amortization of bond discounts and deferred financing costs	11,687	10,320	7,843
Gain on sale and retirement of property and assets	(1,119)	(483)	(4,696)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,169)	(7,897)	(12,040)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	8,438	6,044	2,340
Loss on extinguishment of debt		1,155	760
Inventory impairment and land option write-offs	12,044	5,224	4,965
Deferred income tax benefit	(4,691)	(287,740)
(Increase) decrease in assets:
Origination of mortgage loans	(1,042,407)	(807,411)	(893,960)
Sale of mortgage loans	1,007,425	825,026	898,031
Restricted cash, receivables, prepaids, deposits and other assets	10,855	(48,908)	52,940
Inventories	(312,312)	(270,770)	(111,770)
(Decrease) increase in liabilities:
State and federal income tax payable	(1,045)	(104)	(3,581)
Customers’ deposits	9,249	4,850	6,273
Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities	(10,594)	59,269	19,314
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(320,535)	(190,585)	9,268
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and assets	1,573	515	7,369
Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets and acquisitions	(2,054)	(3,423)	(1,558)
Decrease (Increase) in Restricted Cash	1,555	(655)
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(18,707)	(21,699)	(4,907)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	17,112	11,107	24,806
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,472	(14,155)	30,285
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgages and notes	180,284	152,906	109,209
Payments related to mortgages and notes	(140,901)	(112,136)	(76,142)
Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs	43,181	42,402	21,948
Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs	(20,197)	(23,188)	(9,193)
Proceeds from land bank financing programs	16,985	24,696	36,233
Payments related to land bank financing programs	(24,330)	(42,002)	(39,669)
Proceeds from senior notes	250,000	121,447
Payments related to senior notes	(60,815)	(22,593)	(40,424)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility	47,000
Net proceeds (payments) related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit	31,956	(14,744)	(15,822)
Deferred financing cost from land banking financing programs and note issuances	(9,015)	(11,947)	(5,071)
Principal payments and debt repurchases	(4,238)	(5,960)	(6,231)
Net cash provided by financing activities	309,910	137,434	16,419
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(8,153)	(67,306)	55,972
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year	261,898	329,204	273,232
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year	253,745	261,898	329,204
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)	85,719	85,386	86,257
Income taxes	1,779	538	(5,780)
Related to Mortgage Company [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Decrease (Increase) in Restricted Cash	1,555	(655)	4,575
Related to Letters of Credit [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Decrease (Increase) in Restricted Cash	2,993
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from senior notes	$ 250,000	$ 150,000	$ 41,581

Supplemental Disclosure of Nonc

Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing Activities	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities: In fiscal 2013, a property that we previously acquired when our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us, was foreclosed on by the note holder. As a result, the inventory with a book value of $9.5 million and corresponding nonrecourse liability of equal amount were taken off of our balance sheet. In fiscal 2013, 18,305 of our senior exchangeable notes were exchanged for 3,396,102 shares of Class A Common Stock. In fiscal 2013, we entered into a new unconsolidated homebuilding joint venture which resulted in the transfer of an existing receivable from our joint venture partners of $0.6 million at October 31, 2012, to an investment in the joint venture at January 31, 2013.

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting [Text Block]	1. Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation

Note 2 - Business

Note 2 - Business	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	2. Business Our operations consist of homebuilding, financial services and corporate. Our homebuilding operations are made up of six reportable segments defined as Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West. Homebuilding operations comprise the substantial part of our business, representing approximately 97% of consolidated revenues for the year ended October 31, 2015, approximately 98% for the year ended October 31, 2014 and approximately 97% for the year ended October 31, 2013. We are a Delaware corporation, building and selling homes at October 31, 2015 in 219 consolidated new home communities in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. We offer a wide variety of homes that are designed to appeal to first-time buyers, first and second-time move-up buyers, luxury buyers, active lifestyle buyers and empty nesters. Our financial services operations, which are a reportable segment, provide mortgage banking and title services to the homebuilding operations’ customers. We do not typically retain or service the mortgages that we originate but rather sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors. Corporate primarily includes the operations of our corporate office whose primary purpose is to provide executive services, accounting, information services, human resources, management reporting, training, cash management, internal audit, risk management, and administration of process redesign, quality, and safety. See Note 10 “Operating and Reporting Segments” for further disclosure of our reportable segments.

Note 3 - Summary of Significant

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Use of Estimates Income Recognition from Home and Land Sales Income Recognition from Mortgage Loans - We elected the fair value option for our mortgage loans held for sale in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments, ” Substantially all of the mortgage loans originated are sold within a short period of time in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, nonrecourse basis, although the Company remains liable for certain limited representations, such as fraud, and warranties related to loan sales. Mortgage investors could seek to have us buy back loans or compensate them from losses incurred on mortgages we have sold based on claims that we breached our limited representations and warranties. We believe there continues to be an industry-wide issue with the number of purchaser claims in which purchasers purport to have found inaccuracies related to the sellers’ representations and warranties in particular loan sale agreements. We have established reserves for probable losses. Cash and Cash Equivalents Fair Value of Financial Instruments Inventories We record inventories in our consolidated balance sheets at cost unless the inventory is determined to be impaired, in which case the inventory is written down to its fair value. Our inventories consist of the following three components: (1) sold and unsold homes and lots under development, which includes all construction, land, capitalized interest and land development costs related to started homes and land under development in our active communities; (2) land and land options held for future development or sale, which includes all costs related to land in our communities in planning or mothballed communities; and (3) consolidated inventory not owned, which includes all costs related to specific performance options, variable interest entities, and other options, which consists primarily of model homes financed with an investor and inventory related to land banking arrangements accounted for as financings. We decide to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine that the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified on our Consolidated Balance Sheets from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale.” During fiscal 2015, we did not mothball any additional communities, or sell any mothballed communities, but re-activated 14 communities which were previously mothballed. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the net book value associated with our 31 and 45 total mothballed communities was $103.0 million and $103.3 million, respectively, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $334.5 million and $412.4 million, respectively . From time to time we enter into option agreements that include specific performance requirements, whereby we are required to purchase a minimum number of lots. Because of our obligation to purchase these lots, for accounting purposes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-20-40-38, we are required to record this inventory on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, we had $1.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of specific performance options recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets to “Consolidated inventory not owned — specific performance options,” with a corresponding liability of $1.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned.” We sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, at October 31, 2015 and 2014, inventory of $95.9 million and $70.4 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned – other options,” with a corresponding amount of $87.9 million and $64.9 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell our land parcels to the land banker and they provide us an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, at October 31, 2015 and 2014, inventory of $25.1 million and $35.0 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned – other options,” with a corresponding amount of $16.8 million and $24.1 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. The recoverability of inventories and other long-lived assets is assessed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment – Overall,” ASC 360-10 requires long-lived assets, including inventories, held for development to be evaluated for impairment based on undiscounted future cash flows of the assets at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows. As such, we evaluate inventories for impairment at the individual community level, the lowest level of discrete cash flows that we measure. We evaluate inventories of communities under development and held for future development for impairment when indicators of potential impairment are present. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, decreases in local housing market values, decreases in gross margins or sales absorption rates, decreases in net sales prices (base sales price net of sales incentives), or actual or projected operating or cash flow losses. The assessment of communities for indication of impairment is performed quarterly. As part of this process, we prepare detailed budgets for all of our communities at least semi-annually and identify those communities with a projected operating loss. For those communities with projected losses, we estimate the remaining undiscounted future cash flows and compare those to the carrying value of the community, to determine if the carrying value of the asset is recoverable. The projected operating profits, losses or cash flows of each community can be significantly impacted by our estimates of the following: ● future base selling prices; ● future home sales incentives; ● future home construction and land development costs; and ● future sales absorption pace and cancellation rates. These estimates are dependent upon specific market conditions for each community. While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the end of a quarterly reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change. Local market-specific conditions that may impact our estimates for a community include: ● the intensity of competition within a market, including available home sales prices and home sales incentives offered by our competitors; ● the current sales absorption pace for both our communities and competitor communities; ● community-specific attributes, such as location, availability of lots in the market, desirability and uniqueness of our community, and the size and style of homes currently being offered; ● potential for alternative product offerings to respond to local market conditions; ● changes by management in the sales strategy of the community; ● current local market economic and demographic conditions and related trends and forecasts; and ● existing home inventory supplies, including foreclosures and short sales. These and other local market-specific conditions that may be present are considered by management in preparing projection assumptions for each community. The sales objectives can differ between our communities, even within a given market. For example, facts and circumstances in a given community may lead us to price our homes with the objective of yielding a higher sales absorption pace, while facts and circumstances in another community may lead us to price our homes to minimize deterioration in our gross margins, although it may result in a slower sales absorption pace. In addition, the key assumptions included in our estimate of future undiscounted cash flows may be interrelated. For example, a decrease in estimated base sales price or an increase in homes sales incentives may result in a corresponding increase in sales absorption pace. Additionally, a decrease in the average sales price of homes to be sold and closed in future reporting periods for one community that has not been generating what management believes to be an adequate sales absorption pace may impact the estimated cash flow assumptions of a nearby community. Changes in our key assumptions, including estimated construction and development costs, absorption pace and selling strategies, could materially impact future cash flow and fair value estimates. Due to the number of possible scenarios that would result from various changes in these factors, we do not believe it is possible to develop a sensitivity analysis with a level of precision that would be meaningful to an investor. If the undiscounted cash flows are more than the carrying value of the community, then the carrying amount is recoverable, and no impairment adjustment is required. However, if the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is deemed impaired and is written down to its fair value. We determine the estimated fair value of each community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community, or in limited circumstances, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale), and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties. Our discount rates used for all impairments recorded from October 31, 2013 to October 31, 2015 ranged from 16.8% to 19.8%. The estimated future cash flow assumptions are virtually the same for both our recoverability and fair value assessments. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value, including discount rates, decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments related to current and future communities. The impairment of a community is allocated to each lot on a relative fair value basis. From time to time, we write off deposits and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs when we determine that it is no longer probable that we will exercise options to buy land in specific locations or when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs. In deciding not to exercise a land option, we take into consideration changes in market conditions, the timing of required land takedowns, the willingness of land sellers to modify terms of the land option contract (including timing of land takedowns), and the availability and best use of our capital, among other factors. The write-off is recorded in the period it is deemed not probable that the optioned property will be acquired. In certain instances, we have been able to recover deposits and other pre-acquisition costs that were previously written off. These recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off. Inventories held for sale are land parcels ready for sale in their current condition, where we have decided not to build homes but are instead actively marketing for sale. These land parcels represented $1.3 million and $0.6 million of our total inventories at October 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties. Post-Development Completion, Warranty Costs Insurance Deductible Reserves We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes delivered in fiscal 2015 and 2014, our deductible under our general liability insurance is a $20 million aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $0.25 million, up to a $5 million limit. Our aggregate retention in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $21 million for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims. We do not have a deductible on our worker's compensation insurance. Reserves for estimated losses for construction defects, warranty and bodily injury claims have been established using the assistance of a third-party actuary. We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty and construction defect data to assist our management in estimating our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and construction defect programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees. These estimates are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in construction defect claims relative to our markets and the types of products we build, claim settlement patterns, insurance industry practices and legal interpretations, among others. Because of the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated liability amounts, actual future costs could differ significantly from our currently estimated amounts. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. See Note 16 for additional information on the amount of warranty costs recognized in cost of goods sold and administrative expenses. Interest Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were: Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Interest capitalized at beginning of year $109,158 $105,093 $116,056 Plus interest incurred(1) 166,188 145,409 132,611 Less cost of sales interest expensed 59,613 53,966 52,230 Less other interest expensed(2)(3) 91,835 87,378 91,344 Interest capitalized at end of year(4) $123,898 $109,158 $105,093 (1) Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries. (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. Also includes interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed. (3) 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: Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Other interest expensed $91,835 $87,378 $91,344 Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries 2,050 1,969 2,975 Increase in accrued interest (8,166 ) (3,961 ) (8,062 ) Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest $85,719 $85,386 $86,257 (4) Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating any portion of impairments, if any, to capitalized interest. Land Options - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Deferred Bond Issuance Costs - Debt Issued At a Discount - Advertising Costs Deferred Income Taxes - In evaluating the exposures associated with our various tax filing positions, we recognize tax liabilities in accordance with ASC 740-10, for more likely than not exposures. We re-evaluate the exposures associated with our tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, new audit activity by taxing authorities, and effectively settled issues. Determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled requires judgment. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have established a liability is audited and fully resolved or clarified. We adjust our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and income tax provision in the period in which an uncertain tax position is effectively settled, or the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when more information becomes available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate. Any such changes will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined. Depreciation - Prepaid Expenses - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Stock Options - ,” which requires the fair-value based method of accounting for stock awards granted to employees and measures and records the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Compensation cost arising from nonvested stock granted to employees and from nonemployee stock awards is based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date recognized as expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period. Per Share Calculations - All outstanding nonvested shares that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents that participate in undistributed earnings with common stock are considered participating securities and are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and participation rights in undistributed earnings in periods where we have net income. The Company’s restricted common stock (“nonvested shares”) are considered participating securities. Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue that represents the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount equivalent to the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The following steps should be applied to determine this amount: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASU 605, “Revenue Recognition ,” and most industry-specific guidance in the Accounting Standards Codification. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 on this same topic, which defers for one year the effective date of ASU 2014-09, therefore making the guidance effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2018. Additionally, the FASB also decided to permit entities to early adopt the standard, which allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective methods of adoption, for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”), which requires management to perform interim and annual assessments on whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and to provide related disclosures, if required. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the Company for our fiscal year ending October 31, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”), which amends the consolidation requirements in ASC 810, primarily related to limited partnerships and VIEs. ASU 2015-02 is effective for the Company beginning on November 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2015-02 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest” (“ASU 2015-03”), which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. This new guidance is a change from the current treatment of recording debt issuance costs as an asset representing a deferred charge, and is consistent with the accounting treatment for debt discounts. The guidance, which requires retrospective application, is effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 will result in reclassification of our deferred bond issuance costs from assets to an offset of our notes payable on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, in August 2015, as a follow-up to ASU 2015-03, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30)” (“ASU 2015-15”). ASU 2015-15 addresses the presentation of debt issuance costs for line-of-credit arrangements, allowing an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-15 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 4 - Leases

Note 4 - Leases	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Leases [Abstract]
Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]	4. Leases We lease certain property under non-cancelable leases. Office leases are generally for terms of three to five years and generally provide renewal options. Model home leases are generally for shorter terms of approximately one to three years with renewal options on a month-to-month basis. In most cases, we expect that in the normal course of business, leases that will expire will be renewed or replaced by other leases. The future lease payments required under operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows: Years Ending October 31, (In Thousands) 2016 $10,349 2017 6,147 2018 2,567 2019 1,562 2020 1,136 Thereafter 180 Total $21,941 Net rental expense for the three years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, was $11.6 million, $11.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively. These amounts include rent expense for various month-to-month leases on model homes, furniture and equipment. These amounts also include the amortization of abandoned lease costs for leased space that we have abandoned due to our reduction in size and consolidation of certain locations. Certain leases contain renewal or purchase options and generally provide that the Company shall pay for insurance, taxes and maintenance.

Note 5 - Property, Plant and Eq

Note 5 - Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	5. Property, Plant and Equipment Homebuilding property, plant, and equipment consists of land, land improvements, buildings, building improvements, furniture and equipment used to conduct day-to-day business and are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Property, plant, and equipment balances as of October 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows: October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Land and land improvements $2,398 $2,398 Buildings 67,039 66,871 Building improvements 7,145 9,660 Furniture 5,878 6,187 Equipment 35,103 35,227 Total 117,563 120,343 Less accumulated depreciation 72,029 73,599 Total $45,534 $46,744

Note 6 - Restricted Cash and De

Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents Disclosure [Text Block]	6. Restricted Cash and Deposits Restricted cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled to $26.5 million and $29.3 million as of October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which included cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities as discussed in Note 8. Also included in this balance were homebuilding and financial services customers’ deposits of $4.7 million and $17.2 million at October 31, 2015, respectively, and $7.5 million and $12.1 million as of October 31, 2014, respectively, which are restricted from use by us, and $2.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, of restricted cash under the terms of our mortgage warehouse lines of credit. Total Homebuilding Customers’ deposits are shown as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These liabilities are significantly more than the applicable periods’ restricted cash balances because, in some states, the deposits are not restricted from use and, in other states, we are able to release the majority of these customer deposits to cash by pledging letters of credit and surety bonds.

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held fo

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]	7. Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Our mortgage banking subsidiary originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time of origination. Mortgage loans held for sale consist primarily of single-family residential loans collateralized by the underlying property. We have elected the fair value option to record loans held for sale and therefore these loans are recorded at fair value with the changes in the value recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services.” We currently use forward sales of MBS, interest rate commitments from borrowers and mandatory and/or best efforts forward commitments to sell loans to third-party purchasers to protect us from interest rate fluctuations. These short-term instruments, which do not require any payments to be made to the counterparty or investor in connection with the execution of the commitments, are recorded at fair value. Gains and losses on changes in the fair value are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services.” At October 31 , 2015 and 2014, $ 114.0 million and $78.6 million, respectively, of mortgages held for sale were pledged against our mortgage warehouse lines of credit (see Note 8). We may incur losses with respect to mortgages that were previously sold that are delinquent and which had underwriting defects, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or resale value of the home. The reserves for these estimated losses are included in the “Financial services – Accounts payable and other liabilities” balances on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, we had reserves specifically for 131 and 130 identified mortgage loans, respectively, as well as reserves for an estimate for future losses on mortgages sold but not yet identified to us. The activity in our loan origination reserves in fiscal 2015 and 2014 was as follows: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Loan origination reserves, beginning of period $7,352 $11,036 Provisions for losses during the period 221 3,814 Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates 452 (2,574 ) Payments/settlements (1) - (4,924 ) Loan origination reserves, end of period $8,025 $7,352 (1) Includes the global settlement of all loans sold to one of our previously significant mortgage purchasers, which settlements covers all of our potential liability for such loans. The decrease in the volume of activity in loan origination reserves from fiscal 2014 to fiscal 2015 is due to only two loan repurchase requests during fiscal 2015, compared to 78 in fiscal 2014. In addition, adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates and payments/settlements were both impacted in fiscal 2014 by the global settlement of all loans sold to one of our previously significant mortgage purchasers.

Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Pa

Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Line Of Credit [Abstract]
Line Of Credit [Text Block]	8. Mortgages and Notes Payable We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $143.9 million and $103.9 million at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $388.1 million and $220.1 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 5.1% and 5.0% at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries. We also have nonrecourse mortgage loans on our corporate headquarters totaling $15.5 million and $16.6 million at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These loans had a weighted-average interest rate of 8.8% at October 31, 2015 and 7.0% at October 31, 2014. As of October 31, 2015, these loans had installment obligations with annual principal maturities in the years ending October 31 of: $1.2 million in 2016, $1.3 million in 2017, $1.4 million in 2018, $1.5 million in 2019, $1.7 million in 2020 and $8.4 million after 2020. In June 2013, K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”), as borrower, and we and certain of our subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into a five-year, $75.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, and Citibank, N.A., as a lender. The Credit Facility is available for both letters of credit and general corporate purposes. The Credit Facility does not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but does contain certain restrictive covenants that track those contained in our indenture governing the 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019, which are described in Note 9. The Credit Facility also contains certain customary events of default which would permit the administrative agent at the request of the required lenders to, among other things, declare all loans then outstanding to be immediately due and payable if such default is not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments of amounts payable under the Credit Facility or other material indebtedness or the acceleration of other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants or for representations or warranties to be correct in all material respects when made, specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, and the entry of a material judgment against a loan party. Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility accrue interest at an annual rate equal to either, as selected by K. Hovnanian, (i) the alternate base rate plus the applicable spread determined on the date of such borrowing or (ii) an adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) rate plus the applicable spread determined as of the date two business days prior to the first day of the interest period for such borrowing. As of October 31, 2015 there were $47.0 million of borrowings and $25.9 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility. As of October 31, 2014, there were no borrowings and $26.5 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility. As of October 31, 2015, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Credit Facility. In addition to the Credit Facility, we have certain stand–alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there were a total of $2.6 million and $5.5 million letters of credit outstanding at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. As of October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $2.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash and cash equivalents” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. In certain instances, we retain the servicing rights for a small amount of loans. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on July 31, 2015, is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through July 29, 2016. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted LIBOR rate, which was 0. 19% at October 31, 2015, plus the applicable margin of 2.5% or 2.63% based upon type of loan. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $30.5 million and $25.5 million, respectively. K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on February 19, 2015 to extend the maturity date to February 18, 2016, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $37.5 million through maturity. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current LIBOR, plus the applicable margin ranging from 2.75% to 5.25% based on the type of loan and the number of days outstanding on the warehouse line. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $ 29.7 million and $20.4 million, respectively. K. Hovnanian Mortgage has a third secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC (“Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on July 31, 2015, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through July 29, 2016. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at the Credit Suisse Cost of Funds, which was 0. 58% at October 31, 2015, plus the applicable margin of 2.5% until the loan documents have been provided to the lender, at which point the margin is lowered to 2.25%. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement was $30.1 million and $19.7 million, respectively. In February 2014, K. Hovnanian Mortgage executed a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Comerica Bank (“Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on June 29, 2015 to extend the maturity date to June 28, 2016. The Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $35.0 million through maturity. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly at LIBOR, subject to a floor of 0.25%, plus the applicable margin of 2.5%. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement was $ 18.6 million and $11.3 million, respectively. The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement, Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement and Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of October 31, 2015, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Long-term Debt [Text Block]	9. Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing and Senior Exchangeable Notes Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing and Senior Exchangeable Notes balances as of October 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows: Year Ended (In thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 Senior Secured Notes: 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due October 15, 2020 $577,000 $577,000 9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due November 15, 2020 220,000 220,000 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount) 53,139 53,129 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount) 131,207 129,806 Total Senior Secured Notes $981,346 $979,935 Senior Notes: 11.875% Senior Notes due October 15, 2015 (net of discount) $- $60,414 6.25% Senior Notes due January 15, 2016 (net of discount) 172,744 172,483 7.5% Senior Notes due May 15, 2016 86,532 86,532 8.625% Senior Notes due January 15, 2017 121,043 121,043 7.0% Senior Notes due January 15, 2019 150,000 150,000 8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2019 250,000 - Total Senior Notes $780,319 $590,472 11.0% Senior Amortizing Notes due December 1, 2017 $12,811 $17,049 Senior Exchangeable Notes due December 1, 2017 $73,771 $70,101 As of October 31, 2015, future maturities of our borrowings (assuming no exchange of our senior exchangeable notes), were as follows ( in thousands Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2015 2016 $263,994 2017 126,293 2018 76,614 2019 150,000 2020 827,000 Thereafter 415,000 Total $1,858,901 Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes, our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiary, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured, senior, senior amortizing and senior exchangeable notes outstanding at October 31, 2015 (see Note 22). In addition, the 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “5.0% 2021 Notes”) and the 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2.0% 2021 Notes” and together with the 5.0% 2021 Notes, the “2021 Notes”) are guaranteed by K. Hovnanian JV Holdings, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries except for certain joint ventures and joint venture holding companies (collectively, the “Secured Group”). Members of the Secured Group do not guarantee K. Hovnanian's other indebtedness. The indentures governing the notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase subordinated indebtedness (with respect to certain of the senior secured and senior notes), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets, and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the notes to declare the notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of October 31, 2015, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes. If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indentures governing our senior secured and senior notes (other than the senior exchangeable notes), is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness, and nonrecourse indebtedness. As a result of this restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future. Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our debt instruments or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the debt instruments. On August 8, 2005, K. Hovnanian issued $300.0 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016. The 6.25% Senior Notes were issued at a discount to yield 6.46% and have been reflected net of the unamortized discount in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at 100% of their principal amount plus the payment of a make-whole amount. The net proceeds of the issuance were used to repay the outstanding balance under our then existing revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. These notes were the subject of a November 2011 exchange offer discussed below. On September 16, 2013, K. Hovnanian issued $41.6 million of additional 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016 at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount as discussed below. On February 27, 2006, K. Hovnanian issued $300.0 million of 7.5% Senior Notes due 2016. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at 100% of their principal amount plus the payment of a make-whole amount. The net proceeds of the issuance were used to repay a portion of the outstanding balance under our then existing revolving credit facility as of February 27, 2006. These notes were the subject of a November 2011 exchange offer discussed below. On June 12, 2006, K. Hovnanian issued $250.0 million of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at 100% of their principal amount plus the payment of a make-whole amount. The net proceeds of the issuance were used to repay a portion of the outstanding balance under our then existing revolving credit facility as of June 12, 2006. These notes were the subject of a November 2011 exchange offer discussed below. On February 14, 2011, K. Hovnanian issued $155.0 million aggregate principal amount of 11.875% Senior Notes due 2015. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” These notes were the subject of a November 2011 exchange offer discussed below. On October 15, 2015, the remaining $60.8 million of our 11.875% Senior Notes due 2015 matured and was paid. On November 1, 2011, K. Hovnanian issued $141.8 million aggregate principal amount of 5.0% 2021 Notes and $53.2 million aggregate principal amount of 2.0% 2021 Notes in exchange for $195.0 million of certain of K. Hovnanian's unsecured senior notes with maturities ranging from 2014 through 2017. The 5.0% 2021 Notes and the 2.0% 2021 Notes were issued as separate series under an indenture, but have substantially the same terms other than with respect to interest rate and related redemption provisions, and vote together as a single class. The 2021 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time, at 100.0% of the principal amount plus the greater of 1% of the principal amount and an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” The guarantees with respect to the 2021 Notes of the Secured Group are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the members of the Secured Group. As of October 31, 2015, the collateral securing the guarantees included (1) $50.9 million of cash and cash equivalents (subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments); (2) $140 .1 million aggregate book value of real property of the Secured Group, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised, and (3) equity interests in guarantors that are members of the Secured Group. Members of the Secured Group also own equity in joint ventures, either directly or indirectly through ownership of joint venture holding companies, with a book value of $57.3 million as of October 31, 2015; this equity is not pledged to secure, and is not collateral for, the 2021 Notes. Members of the Secured Group are “unrestricted subsidiaries” under K. Hovnanian's other senior notes and senior secured notes, and thus have not guaranteed such indebtedness. On October 2, 2012, K. Hovnanian issued $577.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior secured first lien notes due 2020 (the "First Lien Notes") and $220.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.125% senior secured second lien notes due 2020 (the "Second Lien Notes" and, together with the First Lien Notes, the "2020 Secured Notes") in a private placement (the "2020 Secured Notes Offering"). The net proceeds from the 2020 Secured Notes Offering, together with the net proceeds of the Units offering discussed below, and cash on hand, were used to fund the tender offer and consent solicitation with respect to the Company’s then-outstanding 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and the redemption of the remaining notes that were not purchased in the tender offer as described below. The First Lien Notes are secured by a first-priority lien and the Second Lien Notes are secured by a second-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian and the guarantors of such notes. At October 31, 2015, the aggregate book value of the real property that constituted collateral securing the 2020 Secured Notes was $784.7 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised. In addition, cash collateral that secured the 2020 Secured Notes was $197.1 million as of October 31, 2015, which included $2.6 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit. Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments. We may redeem some or all of the First Lien Notes at 105.438% of principal commencing October 15, 2015, at 103.625% of principal commencing October 15, 2016, at 101.813% of principal commencing October 15, 2017 and 100% of principal commencing October 15, 2018 . We may redeem some or all of the Second Lien Notes at 106.844% of principal commencing November 15, 2015, at 104.563% of principal commencing November 15, 2016, at 102.281% of principal commencing November 15, 2017 and 100% of principal commencing November 15, 2018. Also on October 2, 2012, the Company and K. Hovnanian issued $100,000,000 aggregate stated amount of 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units (the “Units”) (equivalent to 100,000 Units). Each $1,000 stated amount of Units initially consists of (1) a zero coupon senior exchangeable note due December 1, 2017 (a “Senior Exchangeable Note”) issued by K. Hovnanian, which bears no cash interest and has an initial principal amount of $768.51 per Senior Exchangeable Note, and that will accrete to $1,000 at maturity and (2) a senior amortizing note due December 1, 2017 (a “Senior Amortizing Note”) issued by K. Hovnanian, which has an initial principal amount of $231.49 per Senior Amortizing Note, bears interest at a rate of 11.0% per annum, and has a final installment payment date of December 1, 2017. Each Unit may be separated into its constituent Senior Exchangeable Note and Senior Amortizing Note after the initial issuance date of the Units, and the separate components may be combined to create a Unit. Each Senior Exchangeable Note had an initial principal amount of $768.51 (which will accrete to $1,000 over the term of the Senior Exchangeable Note at an annual rate of 5.17% from the date of issuance, calculated on a semi-annual bond equivalent yield basis). Holders may exchange their Senior Exchangeable Notes at their option at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding December 1, 2017. Each Senior Exchangeable Note will be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock at an initial exchange rate of 185.5288 shares of Class A Common Stock per Senior Exchangeable Note (equivalent to an initial exchange price, based on $1,000 principal amount at maturity, of approximately $5.39 per share of Class A Common Stock). The exchange rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events. If certain corporate events occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the applicable exchange rate for any holder who elects to exchange its Senior Exchangeable Notes in connection with such corporate event. In addition, holders of Senior Exchangeable Notes will also have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Senior Exchangeable Notes upon the occurrence of certain of these corporate events. As of October 31, 2015, 18,305 Senior Exchangeable Notes have been converted into 3.4 million shares of our Class A Common Stock, all of which were converted during the first quarter of fiscal 2013. On each June 1 and December 1 (each, an “installment payment date”), K. Hovnanian will pay holders of Senior Amortizing Notes equal semi-annual cash installments of $30.00 per Senior Amortizing Note (except for the June 1, 2013 installment payment, which was $39.83 per Senior Amortizing Note), which cash payment in the aggregate will be equivalent to 6.0% per year with respect to each $1,000 stated amount of Units. Each installment will constitute a payment of interest (at a rate of 11.0% per annum) and a partial repayment of principal on the Senior Amortizing Note. Following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, holders of the Senior Amortizing Notes will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Senior Amortizing Notes. The net proceeds of the Units offering, along with the net proceeds from the 2020 Secured Notes Offering previously discussed, and cash on hand, were used to fund the tender offer and consent solicitation with respect to the Company’s then outstanding 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and redemption of the remaining notes that were not purchased in the tender offer. On September 16, 2013, K. Hovnanian issued an aggregate principal amount of $41.6 million of its 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016. The Notes were issued as additional 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016 under the indenture dated as of August 8, 2005. The net proceeds from this offering were used to fund the redemption on October 15, 2013 of all of K. Hovnanian’s outstanding 6.5% Senior Notes due 2014 and 6.375% Senior Notes due 2014 and to pay related fees and expenses. On January 10, 2014, K. Hovnanian issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.0% Senior Notes due 2019, resulting in net proceeds of $147.8 million. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to July 15, 2016 at 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” We may also redeem some or all of the notes at 103.5% of principal commencing July 15, 2016, at 101.75% of principal commencing January 15, 2017 and 100% of principal commencing January 15, 2018. In addition, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes prior to July 15, 2016, with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at 107.0% of principal. We used a portion of the net proceeds to fund the redemption on February 9, 2014 (effected on February 10, 2014, which was the next business day after the redemption date) of the remaining outstanding principal amount ($21.4 million) of our 6.25% Senior Notes due 2015. The redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million, net of the write-off of unamortized fees, and is included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Loss on extinguishment of debt” for fiscal 2014. The remaining net proceeds from the offering were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, K. Hovnanian solicited and obtained the requisite consent of holders of its 2020 Secured Notes to certain amendments to the indentures under which such notes were issued. K. Hovnanian paid an aggregate of $3.3 million to holders who consented thereunder. On November 5, 2014, K. Hovnanian issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019, resulting in net proceeds of $245.7 million. These proceeds were used for general corporate purposes. The notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at any time prior to August 1, 2019 at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” At any time and from time to time on or after August 1, 2019, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount. We have $172.7 million of 6.25% Senior Notes due on January 15, 2016 and $86.5 million of 7.5% Senior Notes due on May 15, 2016. While our preference is to refinance these near term maturities as they come due, in light of the availability of debt financing in the capital or loan markets to companies with comparable credit ratings, we may not be able to refinance these obligations or do so at an attractive rate. In this situation, as an alternative to refinancing, we have a number of means to provide sufficient liquidity to enable us to pay these bonds at maturity while continuing to execute our strategic objectives, which include growing our company. Such means include: additional land banking transactions, an increase in joint venture activity and/or project specific financings and model sale leasebacks. For example, we recently announced one new land banking arrangement with Domain Real Estate Partners for up to $125.0 million and an increase to the existing GSO Capital Partners LP arrangement for up to $175.0 million. In these arrangements, we sell certain of our existing land parcels to the land bank partner with an option to buy back finished lots subject to a cost of carry. We will receive a majority of the $300.0 million funds available under our land banking programs at the time we sell our existing land parcels to our land banking partners. The remainder of the land banking programs’ funds will be paid to us by our land banking partners as reimbursement of our land development costs as incurred.

Note 10 - Operating and Reporti

Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	10. Operating and Reporting Segments Our operating segments are components of our business for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. Based on this criteria, each of our communities qualifies as an operating segment, and therefore, it is impractical to provide segment disclosures for this many segments. As such, we have aggregated the homebuilding operating segments into six reportable segments. Our homebuilding operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments based primarily upon geographic proximity, similar regulatory environments, land acquisition characteristics and similar methods used to construct and sell homes. Our reportable segments consist of the following six homebuilding segments and a financial services segment: Homebuilding: (1) Northeast (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) (2) Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia) (3) Midwest (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio) (4) Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) (5) Southwest (Arizona and Texas) (6) West (California) Financial Services Operations of the Company’s Homebuilding segments primarily include the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, urban infill and active lifestyle homes in planned residential developments. In addition, from time to time, operations of the homebuilding segments include sales of land. Operations of the Company’s Financial Services segment include mortgage banking and title services provided to the homebuilding operations’ customers. We do not typically retain or service mortgages that we originate but rather sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors. Corporate and unallocated primarily represents operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey. This includes our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality and safety. It also includes interest income and interest expense resulting from interest incurred that cannot be capitalized in inventory in the Homebuilding segments, as well as the gains or losses on extinguishment of debt from debt repurchases or exchanges. Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on operating earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes (“Income (loss) before income taxes”). Income (loss) before income taxes for the Homebuilding segments consist of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, income (loss) from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, interest expense and non-controlling interest expense. Income before income taxes for the Financial Services segment consist of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the cost of such services and certain selling, general and administrative expenses incurred by the Financial Services segment. Operational results of each segment are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the segment been an independent stand-alone entity during the periods presented. Financial information relating to operations of our segments was as follows: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Revenues: Northeast $189,497 $275,830 $282,855 Mid-Atlantic 399,500 332,719 289,303 Midwest 311,449 226,174 163,485 Southeast 207,662 204,671 147,570 Southwest 823,853 751,426 697,358 West 159,969 230,308 223,086 Total homebuilding 2,091,930 2,021,128 1,803,657 Financial services 56,665 42,414 47,727 Corporate and unallocated (115 ) (162 ) (131 ) Total revenues $2,148,480 $2,063,380 $1,851,253 (Loss) income before income taxes: Northeast $(7,742 ) $(7,517 ) $1,519 Mid-Atlantic 21,431 23,897 24,388 Midwest 14,012 17,879 12,270 Southeast (6,330 ) 9,247 6,455 Southwest 67,437 74,527 76,459 West (17,145 ) 21,303 14,398 Total homebuilding 71,663 139,336 135,489 Financial services 24,693 13,798 18,668 Corporate and unallocated (118,121 ) (132,954 ) (132,222 ) (Loss) Income before income taxes $(21,765 ) $20,180 $21,935 October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Assets: Northeast $321,983 $315,573 Mid-Atlantic 342,159 313,494 Midwest 197,899 169,967 Southeast 223,206 148,096 Southwest 465,740 410,756 West 259,943 143,245 Total homebuilding 1,810,930 1,501,131 Financial services 159,981 120,343 Corporate and unallocated (1) 631,387 668,456 Total assets $2,602,298 $2,289,930 (1) Includes $290.3 million and $284.5 million of income taxes receivable - including deferred tax assets in fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively. October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures: Northeast $12,340 $6,987 Mid-Atlantic 22,417 36,285 Midwest (20 ) 806 Southeast 10,224 4,787 Southwest - - West 16,122 14,562 Total homebuilding 61,083 63,427 Corporate and unallocated 126 456 Total investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures $61,209 $63,883 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Homebuilding interest expense: Northeast $14,150 $20,940 $26,163 Mid-Atlantic 16,268 9,542 10,037 Midwest 10,405 5,354 3,737 Southeast 9,552 7,827 5,861 Southwest 26,147 20,543 16,071 West 10,381 12,619 12,960 Total homebuilding 86,903 76,825 74,829 Corporate and unallocated 64,545 64,519 68,745 Financial services interest expense (1) (1,066 ) (119 ) 499 Total interest expense, net $150,382 $141,225 $144,073 (1) Financial services interest expenses are included in the Financial services lines on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the respective revenues and expenses sections. Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Depreciation: Northeast $136 $250 $245 Mid-Atlantic 28 45 283 Midwest 361 355 528 Southeast 40 31 31 Southwest 89 131 163 West 79 33 148 Total homebuilding 733 845 1,398 Financial services 47 68 285 Corporate and unallocated 2,608 2,504 3,029 Total depreciation $3,388 $3,417 $4,712 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Net additions to operating properties and equipment: Northeast $- $44 $388 Mid-Atlantic 58 23 35 Midwest 637 927 279 Southeast 227 59 7 Southwest 173 39 44 West 88 170 19 Total homebuilding 1,183 1,262 772 Financial services - 28 6 Corporate and unallocated 871 2,133 780 Total net additions to operating properties and equipment $2,054 $3,423 $1,558 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures: Northeast $856 $(1,302 ) $3,738 Mid-Atlantic 4,502 6,459 5,631 Midwest (105 ) 17 1,045 Southeast 1,213 2,119 1,287 Southwest - - - West (2,297 ) 604 339 Total equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures $4,169 $7,897 $12,040

Note 11 - Income Taxes

Note 11 - Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	11. Income Taxes Income taxes payable (receivable), including deferred benefits, consists of the following: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 State income taxes: Current $2,151 $3,197 Deferred (11,148 ) (14,918 ) Federal income taxes: Current - - Deferred (281,282 ) (272,822 ) Total $(290,279 ) $(284,543 ) The provision for income taxes is composed of the following charges (benefits): Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Current income tax (benefit) expense: Federal (1) $(1,497 ) $(1,690 ) $(9,878 ) State (2) 523 2,466 518 Total current income tax (benefit) expense: (974 ) 776 (9,360 ) Federal (8,461 ) (272,822 ) - State 3,770 (14,918 ) - Total deferred income tax (benefit): (4,691 ) (287,740 ) - Total $(5,665 ) $(286,964 ) $(9,360 ) (1) The current federal income tax (benefit) expense is net of the use of federal net operating losses totaling $3.7 million, $57.8 million and $0.0 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. (2) The current state income tax (benefit) expense is net of the use of state net operating losses totaling $12.3 million, $24.5 million and $23.1 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The total income tax benefit of $5.7 million recognized for the year ended October 31, 2015 was primarily due to deferred taxes resulting from the loss before income taxes plus the reversal of state tax reserves for uncertain state tax positions, partially offset by state tax expenses. The total income tax benefit of $287.0 million recognized for the year ended October 31, 2014 was primarily due to the reversal of a substantial portion of our valuation allowance previously recorded against our deferred tax assets, plus a refund received for a loss carryback to a previously profitable year and the impact of state tax reserves for uncertain state tax positions, partially offset by state tax expenses. The total income tax benefit of $9.4 million recognized for the year ended October 31, 2013 was primarily due to the release of reserves for a federal tax position that was settled with the Internal Revenue Service and a favorable state tax audit settlement, partially offset by state tax expenses and state tax reserves for uncertain state tax positions. Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard. As of October 31, 2014, and again at October 31, 2015, we concluded that it was more likely than not that a substantial amount of our deferred tax assets (“DTA”) would be utilized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all relevant evidence, both positive and negative. The positive evidence included factors such as positive earnings for two of the last three fiscal years and the expectation of earnings going forward over the long term and evidence of a sustained recovery in the housing markets in which we operate. Such evidence is supported by significant increases in key financial indicators over the last few years, including new orders, backlog, and community count compared with the prior years. Economic data has also been affirming the housing market recovery. Housing starts, homebuilding volume and prices are increasing and forecasted to continue to increase. Historically low mortgage rates, affordable home prices, reduced foreclosures and a favorable home ownership to rental comparison are key factors in the recovery. Potentially offsetting this positive evidence is the fact that we had a loss before income taxes for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015. However, as we expected last year when we reversed a substantial portion of our deferred tax asset valuation allowance, we are no longer in a three year cumulative loss position as of October 31, 2015. As per ASC 740, cumulative losses are one of the most objectively verifiable forms of negative evidence; we no longer have this negative evidence and we expect to be profitable going forward over the long term. Our recent three years cumulative performance and our expectations for the coming years based on our current backlog, community count and recent sales contracts provide evidence that reaffirms our conclusion last year that a full valuation allowance was not necessary and that the current valuation allowance for deferred taxes of $635.3 million as of October 31, 2015 is appropriate. Our state net operating losses of $2.2 billion expire between 2016 and 2036. Our federal net operating losses of $1.5 billion expire between 2028 and 2033. The deferred tax assets and liabilities have been recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Deferred tax assets: Depreciation $2,176 $2,407 Inventory impairment loss 210,716 219,487 Uniform capitalization of overhead 11,203 9,005 Warranty and legal reserves 13,319 14,342 Deferred income 682 547 Acquisition intangibles 13,374 18,014 Restricted stock bonus 8,191 7,121 Rent on abandoned space 1,888 2,830 Stock options 7,474 8,481 Provision for losses 36,350 43,585 Joint venture loss 2,891 5,633 Federal net operating losses 524,125 524,879 State net operating losses 169,046 176,225 Other 17,752 19,516 Total deferred tax assets 1,019,187 1,052,072 Deferred tax liabilities: Acquisition intangibles - 395 Debt repurchase income 91,452 121,934 Total deferred tax liabilities 91,452 122,329 Valuation allowance (635,305 ) (642,003 ) Net deferred income taxes $292,430 $287,740 The effective tax rate varied from the statutory federal income tax rate. The effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors, the most significant of which has been the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets. Due to the effects of these factors, our effective tax rates for 2015, 2014 and 2013 are not correlated to the amount of our income or loss before income taxes. The sources of these factors were as follows: Year Ended October 31, 2015 2014 2013 Computed “expected” tax rate 35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (15.6 ) (3.5 ) 14.0 Permanent differences, net (0.4 ) 0.8 11.3 Deferred tax asset valuation allowance impact - (1,393.3 ) (66.2 ) Tax contingencies 3.2 (0.6 ) (36.8 ) Adjustments to prior years’ tax accruals 3.8 (60.4 ) - Effective tax rate 26.0 % (1,422.0 )% (42.7 ) % ASC 740-10 provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption of ASC 740-10 and in subsequent periods. This interpretation also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. We recognize tax liabilities in accordance with ASC 740-10 and we adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined. We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet. The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the year (in millions) excluding interest and penalties: 2015 2014 Unrecognized tax benefit—November 1, $1.7 $1.8 Gross increases—tax positions in current period 0.2 0.2 Decrease related to tax positions taken during a prior period - - Lapse of statute of limitations (0.8 ) (0.3 ) Unrecognized tax benefit—October 31, $1.1 $1.7 Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, as of October 31, 2015 and 2014, we have recognized a liability for interest and penalties of $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively. For the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we recognized $(91) thousand, $(30) thousand and $0.1 million, respectively, of interest and penalties in income tax benefit. It is likely that, within the next twelve months, the amount of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by $0.2 million, excluding penalties and interest. This reduction is expected primarily due to the expiration of the statutes of limitation. The portion of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate (excluding any related impact to the valuation allowance) is $1.1 million and $1.1 million as of October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The recognition of unrecognized tax benefits could have an impact on the Company’s deferred tax assets and the valuation allowance. The consolidated federal tax returns have been audited through October 31, 2014 and these years are closed. We are also subject to various income tax examinations in the states in which we do business. The outcome for a particular audit cannot be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of the audit, appeal, and in some cases, litigation process. As each audit is concluded, adjustments, if any, are appropriately recorded in the period determined. To provide for potential exposures, tax reserves are recorded, if applicable, based on reasonable estimates of potential audit results. However, if the reserves are insufficient upon completion of an audit, there could be an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2011–2014.

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventor

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Inventory Impairments And Land Option Cost Write Offs [Abstract]
Inventory Impairments And Land Option Cost Write Offs [Text Block]	12. Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. For the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, our discount rates used for the impairments recorded ranged from 17.3% to 19.8%, 16.8% to 17.3% and 18.0% to 19.3%, respectively. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments. During the years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, we evaluated inventories of all 523 and 495 communities under development and held for future development, respectively, for impairment indicators through preparation and review of detailed budgets or other market indicators of impairment. We performed detailed impairment calculations during the years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014 for 26 and 12 of those communities (i.e., those with a projected operating loss or other impairment indicators), respectively, with an aggregate carrying value of $108.1 million and $28.2 million, respectively, (fourteen and four were in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively, with an aggregate carrying value of $37.7 million and $7.1 million, respectively). As impairment indicators are assessed on a quarterly basis, some of the communities evaluated during the years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014 were evaluated in more than one quarterly period. Of those communities tested for impairment during the years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, twelve and four communities with an aggregate carrying value of $54.9 million and $23.1 million, respectively, had undiscounted future cash flows that only exceeded the carrying amount by less than 20%. As a result of our impairment analysis, we recorded impairment losses, which are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and deducted from inventory, of $7.3 million, $1.2 million and $2.4 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The following table represents impairments by segment for fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013: (Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2015 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 2 $0.8 $0.9 Mid-Atlantic 1 0.9 2.5 Midwest 4 1.3 8.4 Southeast 4 2.5 10.1 Southwest - - - West 1 1.8 7.5 Total 12 $7.3 $29.4 (Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2014 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 2 $0.3 $0.6 Mid-Atlantic - - - Midwest 3 0.9 3.8 Southeast - - - Southwest - - - West - - - Total 5 $1.2 $4.4 (Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2013 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment(2) Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 4 $2.4 $7.7 Mid-Atlantic 1 - 0.1 Midwest - - - Southeast 1 - 0.4 Southwest - - - West - - - Total 6 $2.4 $8.2 (1) Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the applicable period’s impairments. (2) During the year ended October 31, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17 thousand. The Consolidated Statements of Operations line entitled “Homebuilding-Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” also includes write-offs of options and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs that we record when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs and we do not exercise options in various locations because the communities’ pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk. The total aggregate write-offs were $4.7 million, $4.0 million and $2.6 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Occasionally, these write-offs are offset by recovered deposits (sometimes through legal action) that had been written off in a prior period as walk-away costs. Historically, these recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off. The following table represents write-offs of such costs by segment for fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013: Year Ended October 31, (In millions) 2015 2014 2013 Northeast $0.9 $0.9 $0.7 Mid-Atlantic 0.2 0.2 0.1 Midwest 0.6 1.0 0.2 Southeast 1.3 0.7 0.2 Southwest 1.4 1.2 1.4 West 0.3 - - Total $4.7 $4.0 $2.6

Note 13 - Per Share Calculation

Note 13 - Per Share Calculations	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	13. Per Share Calculations Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for nonvested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. The basic weighted–average number of shares for the year ended October 31, 2014 included 6.1 million shares related to Purchase Contracts (issued as part of our then outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units) which shares were issued upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in February 2014. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and nonvested shares of restricted stock, as well as common shares issuable upon exchange of our Senior Exchangeable Notes issued as part of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units. Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. All outstanding nonvested shares that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents that participate in undistributed earnings with common stock are considered participating securities and are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and participation rights in undistributed earnings in periods when we have net income. The Company’s restricted common stock (“nonvested shares”) are considered participating securities. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented below were calculated as follows: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands, except per share data) 2015 2014 2013 Numerator: Net (loss) earnings attributable to Hovnanian $(16,100 ) $307,144 $31,295 Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares - (7,107 ) (58 ) Numerator for basic earnings per share $(16,100 ) $300,037 $31,237 Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares - 7,107 58 Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares - (7,127 ) (59 ) Plus: interest on senior exchangeable notes - 3,487 3,720 Numerator for diluted earnings per share $(16,100 ) $303,504 $34,956 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share 146,899 146,271 145,087 Effect of dilutive securities: Share-based payments - 1,013 1,396 Senior exchangeable notes - 15,157 15,846 Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding 146,899 162,441 162,329 Basic (loss) earnings per share $(0.11 ) $2.05 $0.22 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $(0.11 ) $1.87 $0.22 Incremental shares attributed to nonvested stock and outstanding options to purchase common stock of 0.2 million for the year ended October 31, 2015, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because we had a net loss for the period, and any incremental shares would not be dilutive. Also, for the year ended October 31, 2015, 15.2 million shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our senior exchangeable notes (which were issued in fiscal 2012) were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because we had a net loss for the period. In addition, shares related to out-of-the money stock options that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share were 3.0 million, 2.0 million and 2.2 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

Note 14 - Capital Stock

Note 14 - Capital Stock	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	1 4 . Capital Stock Common Stock - . On March 12, 2013, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at which the Company’s shareholders approved an increase in the Company’s authorized common stock from 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), to 400,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and from 30,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), to 60,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. On August 4, 2008, our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s adoption, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 15, 2018, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan was submitted to a stockholder vote and approved at a special meeting of stockholders held on December 5, 2008. Also at the Special Meeting on December 5, 2008, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A Common Stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our NOLs and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions in the amended Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new public group. Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold. On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock. There were no shares purchased during the year ended October 31, 2015. As of October 31, 2015, the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may yet be purchased under this program is 0.5 million. Preferred Stock - Retirement Plan

Note 15 - Stock Plans

Note 15 - Stock Plans	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	1 5 . Stock Plans The fair value of option awards is established at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013: risk free interest rate of 2.03%, 2.60% and 2.14%, respectively; dividend yield of zero; historical volatility factor of the expected market price of our common stock of 0.58 for the year ended 2015, 0.70 for the year ended 2014, and 0.96 for the year ended 2013; a weighted-average expected life of the option of 7.22 years for 2015, 7.42 years for 2014 and 7.30 years for 2013; and an estimated forfeiture rate of 8.84% for fiscal 2015, 14.59% for fiscal 2014 and 18.17% for fiscal 2013. For the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, total stock-based compensation expense was $8.8 million ($6.5 million post tax), $10.3 million (pre and post tax) and $6.8 million (pre and post tax), respectively. Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was expense for stock options of $2.2 million, $3.9 million and $4.0 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We have a stock incentive plan for certain officers and key employees and directors. Options are granted by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors or its delegee in accordance with the stock incentive plan. The exercise price of all stock options must be at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of the grant. Options granted before June 8, 2007 generally vest in four equal installments on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth anniversaries of the date of the grant. Options granted on or after June 8, 2007 generally vest in four equal installments on the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the date of the grant. All options expire 10 years after the date of the grant. During the year ended October 31, 2015, each of the five non-employee directors of the Company were given the choice to receive stock options or a reduced number of shares of restricted stock. All five selected to receive restricted stock units. Non-employee directors’ options or restricted stock vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of the grant. Stock option transactions are summarized as follows: Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Weighted-Average October 31, 2015 Exercise Price October 31, 2014 Exercise Price October 31, 2013 Exercise Price Options outstanding at beginning of period 6,720,251 $5.23 6,591,054 $5.74 6,019,070 $5.97 Granted 173,750 $2.47 376,822 $4.41 887,500 $6.28 Exercised 18,125 $2.48 42,375 $2.74 44,812 $2.67 Forfeited 203,436 $3.78 56,375 $2.66 76,500 $3.06 Expired 278,564 $15.04 148,875 $27.42 194,204 $16.92 Options outstanding at end of period 6,393,876 $4.78 6,720,251 $5.23 6,591,054 $5.74 Options exercisable at end of period 4,566,290 4,100,413 3,161,952 The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $15 thousand, $105 thousand and $167 thousand, respectively. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. At October 31, 2015, 0.5 million options outstanding and exercisable had an intrinsic value of $66 thousand. Exercise prices for options outstanding at October 31, 2015 ranged from $1.66 to $32.33. The weighted-average fair value of grants made in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $1.47, $3.06 and $5.14 per share, respectively. Based on the fair value at the time they were granted, the weighted-average fair value of options vested in fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013 was $2.78, $2.09 and $2.72 per share, respectively. The following table summarizes the exercise price range and related number of options outstanding at October 31, 2015: Number Weighted- Average Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Range of Exercise Prices Outstanding Exercise Price Life $1.66 – $5.00 4,515,001 $3.03 5.37 $5.01 – $10.00 1,611,750 $6.36 5.29 $10.01 – $20.00 - $- - $20.01 – $30.00 187,375 $21.78 1.59 $30.01 – $40.00 79,750 $32.33 0.55 6,393,876 $4.78 5.18 The following table summarizes the exercise price range and related number of exercisable options at October 31, 2015: Number Weighted- Average Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Range of Exercise Prices Exercisable Exercise Price Life $1.66 – $5.00 3,432,415 $3.04 4.74 $5.01 – $10.00 866,750 $6.44 3.28 $10.01 – $20.00 - $- - $20.01 – $30.00 187,375 $21.78 1.59 $30.01 – $40.00 79,750 $32.33 0.55 4,566,290 $4.96 4.26 Officers and key associates who are eligible to receive equity grants may elect to receive either a stated number of stock options, or a reduced number of shares of restricted stock units, or a combination thereof. Shares underlying restricted stock units vest 25% each year beginning on the second anniversary of the grant date. Participants aged 60 years or older, or aged 58 with 15 years of service, are eligible to vest in their equity awards on an accelerated basis on their retirement (which in the case of the restricted stock units only applies to a retirement that is at least one year after the date of grant). During the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we granted 1,018,558 (including 155,433 shares to certain of our non-employee directors), 168,161 (including 85,035 shares to certain of our non-employee directors) and 104,944 (including 63,694 shares to certain of our non-employee directors) restricted stock units, respectively, and also issued 97,854, 67,804 and 46,393 shares, relating to awards granted in prior fiscal years, respectively. During the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, 5,811, 12,000 and 500 restricted stock units were forfeited, respectively. Through fiscal 2008, for certain associates, a portion of their bonus was paid by issuing a deferred right to receive our common stock. The number of shares is calculated for each bonus year by dividing the portion of the bonus subject to the deferred right award by our average stock price for the year or the stock price at year-end, whichever is lower. Twenty-five percent of the deferred right award will vest and shares will be issued one year after the year end and then 25% a year for the next three years. Participants with 20 years of service or who were over 58 years of age vest immediately. No deferred rights in lieu of bonus payments were awarded during fiscal 2015, 2014 or 2013. During the year ended October 31, 2013, we issued 68,390 relating to awards granted in prior fiscal years. For the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 total compensation cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the annual restricted stock unit grants, market share unit grants (discussed below) , and the stock portion of the long term incentive plan (also discussed below) was $6.5 million, $6.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively. In addition to nonvested share awards summarized in the following table, there were 538,892 vested share awards at October 31, 2015, and 534,143 vested share awards at October 31, 2014 and 2013 which were deferred at the participants' election. A summary of the Company’s nonvested share awards as of and for the year ended October 31, 2015, is as follows: Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Nonvested at beginning of period 2,459,138 $5.02 Granted 1,818,558 $2.66 Vested 626,190 $4.59 Forfeited 50,737 $5.53 Nonvested at end of period 3,600,769 $4.16 Included in the above table are awards for the share portion of long term incentive plans for certain associates, which are performance based plans. The awards included above for these plans are based on our best estimate of the outcome for the performance criteria. At October 31, 2015, the final measurement period was reached for the Company’s 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan (“2013 LTIP”). The performance metrics for the 2013 LTIP were achieving specified pre-tax profit goals and specified improvements in the Company’s capital structure through refinancings of, or reductions in, homebuilding debt over specified dates during the performance period. At the end of fiscal 2015, the Company’s pre-tax profit was less than $50 million and refinancings and/or reductions of existing homebuilding debt equaled approximately $82.0 million. During the 2013 LTIP performance period, the Company also successfully completed $400.0 million in new issuances of homebuilding debt. The proceeds from these financings could have been used to refinance/reduce existing homebuilding debt within the 2013 LTIP performance period. However, the Company and the Board of Directors concluded that, due to the high make-whole cost of retiring existing homebuilding debt prior to maturity, it was more beneficial to the Company and its stockholders to implement the Company’s strategic initiatives, including land acquisition and land development, and wait to retire or refinance debt at the next scheduled maturity dates in January and May 2016. The $259.0 million aggregate principal amount of these future debt reductions along with the $82.0 million achieved during the 2013 LTIP performance period exceeded $325.0 million, the high end of the target performance level for the 2013 LTIP. In recognition of the fact that management’s action advanced the long-term financial interest of the Company and its shareholders and to avoid an inequitable compensation outcome as a result of taking such action above their personal interest, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined to treat the new issuances as having refinanced or reduced existing homebuilding debt for purposes of calculating the 2013 LTIP award so as not to disadvantage the executives for putting the interests of the Company and its shareholders above their personal interests. This interpretation resulted in the achievement of 90% of the target award. Therefore, at the time of this conclusion, the value of the 2013 LTIP award was remeasured, resulting in a reduction of compensation expense during the period. Also included in the table above are 1.6 million target Market Share Units (“MSUs”) of which 800,000 were granted to certain officers in both fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014. Fifty percent of the MSUs will vest in four equal annual installments, commencing on the second anniversary of the grant date subject to stock price performance conditions, pursuant to which the actual number of shares issuable with respect to vested MSUs may range from 0% to 175% of the target number of shares covered by the MSU awards, generally depending on the growth in the 60-day average trading price of the Company’s shares during the period between the grant date and the relevant vesting dates. The remaining fifty percent of the MSUs are also subject to financial performance conditions in addition to the stock price performance conditions applicable to all MSUs. These additional performance-based MSUs vest in four equal installments with the first installment vesting on January 1, 2018 for the 2015 MSU Grant and January 1, 2017 for the 2014 MSU Grant and the remaining annual installments commencing on the third anniversary of the grant date, except that no portion of the award will vest unless the Committee determines that the Company achieved specified total revenue growth goals in fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2015 for the 2015 MSU Grant and that the Company achieved specified total revenue growth goals in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2014 for the 2014 MSU Grant. The fair value of the MSU grants is determined using the Monte-Carlo simulation model, which simulates a range of possible future stock prices and estimates the probabilities of the potential payouts. This model uses the average closing trading price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange over the 60 calendar day period ending on the grant date. This model also incorporates the following ranges of assumptions: ● The expected volatility is based on our stock’s historical volatility commensurate with the life 2 year, 2.5 year, 3 year, 4 year and 5 years. ● The risk –free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate assumption ranging from 2-5 years. ● The expected dividend yield is not applicable since we do not currently pay dividends. The following assumptions were used for fiscal 2015 MSU Grants: historical volatility factors of the expected market price of our common stock of 38.28%, 42.01%, 45.73%, 59.08% and 57.77% for the 2 year, 2.5 year, 3 year, 4 year and 5 year vesting traunches, respectively; risk free interest rates of 0.74%, 0.95%, 1.12%, 1.44% and 1.75% for each vesting traunche, respectively; and dividend yield of zero for all time periods. The following assumptions were used for October 31, 2014 MSU Grants: historical volatility factor of the expected market price of our common stock of 47.52%, 58.07%, 63.79%, 61.12% and 64.67% for the 2 year, 2.5 year, 3 year, 4 year and 5 year, respectively; risk free interest rates of 0.45%, 0.71%, 0.93%, 1.32% and 1.70% for the 2-5 years, respectively; and dividend yield of zero. As of October 31, 2015, we had 3.9 million shares authorized for future issuance under our equity compensation plans. In addition, as of October 31, 2015, there were $4.9 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of two years.

Note 16 - Warranty Costs

Note 16 - Warranty Costs	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]
Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block]	1 6 . Warranty Costs General liability insurance for homebuilding companies and their suppliers and subcontractors is very difficult to obtain. The availability of general liability insurance is limited due to a decreased number of insurance companies willing to underwrite for the industry. In addition, those few insurers willing to underwrite liability insurance have significantly increased the premium costs. To date, we have been able to obtain general liability insurance but at higher premium costs with higher deductibles. Our subcontractors and suppliers have advised us that they have also had difficulty obtaining insurance that also provides us coverage. As a result, we have an owner controlled insurance program for certain of our subcontractors whereby the subcontractors pay us an insurance premium (through a reduction of amounts we would otherwise owe such subcontractors for their work on our homes) based on the risk type of the trade. We absorb the liability associated with their work on our homes as part of our overall general liability insurance at no additional cost to us because our existing general liability and construction defect insurance policy and related reserves for amounts under our deductible covers construction defects regardless of whether we or our subcontractors are responsible for the defect. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, we received $3.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, from subcontractors related to the owner controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as a reduction to inventory. We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes delivered in fiscal 2015 and 2014, our deductible under our general liability insurance is a $20 million aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $0.25 million, up to a $5 million limit. Our aggregate retention in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $21 million for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. Additions and charges in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows: Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $178,008 $131,028 Additions – Selling, general and administrative 18,013 18,839 Additions – Cost of sales 15,308 11,115 Charges incurred during the period (49,131 ) (18,241 ) Changes to pre-existing reserves (17,125 ) (2,600 ) Changes to reserves where corresponding amounts are recorded as receivables from insurance carriers (10,020 ) 37,867 Balance, end of period $135,053 $178,008 Warranty accruals are based upon historical experience. We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty and construction defect data to assist our management in estimating our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and construction defect programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees . As a result of reductions in our construction defect claims over the last two years and the impact of those reductions on the actuarial analysis of our total reserves, we recorded a $15.2 million reduction in our construction defect reserves during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. We also had minor reductions in our warranty accruals based on recent history. These reductions are reflected in the changes to pre-existing reserves in the table above. Charges incurred during the period noted in the table above include the $21.0 million settlement regarding the D’Andrea litigation discussed in Note 18. Also included is the settlement of several other less significant construction defect claims, in addition to the usual construction defect charges incurred repairing homes. Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid, were $32.0 million and $6.4 million for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for prior year deliveries. During fiscal year 2015 we settled the D’Andrea class action suit with the majority of the settlement being paid by our insurance carriers and we settled the dispute with our XL insurance carrier which resulted in a payment to the Company in full settlement of certain policy years. See Note 18. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, we settled construction defect claims relating to the Northeast and West segments which made up the majority of the payments.

Note 17 - Transactions with Rel

Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	17. Transactions with Related Parties During the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, provided services to the Company totaling $1.2 million, $1.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided. Ms. Jovana Pellerito, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Pellerito, one of our executive officers, was employed by the Company and, in fiscal 2014 and 2013, her total compensation, including salary, commissions and other benefits, totaled approximately $96,000 and $172,000, respectively. Her compensation was commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in her position. Ms. Pellerito left the employ of the Company in May 2014. Mr. Carson Sorsby, the son of J. Larry Sorsby, one of our executive officers is employed by the Company’s mortgage subsidiary and his total compensation, including salary and commissions in the Company’s mortgage affiliate totaled approximately $129,000 in fiscal 2015. His compensation is commensurate with that of similarly situated employees in his position. The Company has a significant interest in the amount of estate tax liabilities and any necessary sales by the Estate of Kevork S. Hovnanian, deceased, and other members of the Hovnanian family of their assets (which includes a significant amount of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) to pay such liabilities because the benefit of federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) to the Company would be significantly reduced or eliminated if we were to experience an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Based on recent impairments and current financial performance, the Company had generated NOLs of approximately $1.5 billion through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013. During fiscal 2013, an outside law firm was retained to advise the Executors of the Estate and other members of the Hovnanian family in connection with estate tax planning. The fees and other charges of such legal services were incurred in fiscal 2013 and totaled $249,653, of which (1) the Company and (2) the Estate and Hovnanian family each paid half. Kevork S. Hovnanian was the founder and former Chairman of our Company. Our current Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other members of his immediate family are Executors and among the beneficiaries of the will of Kevork S. Hovnanian.

Note 18 - Commitments and Conti

Note 18 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	18. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and we are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations that affect the development of land and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing. These laws and regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities. This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding. We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment, including those regulating the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, the management of stormwater runoff at construction sites, the handling, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, impacts to wetlands and other sensitive environments, and the remediation of contamination at properties that we have owned or developed or currently own or are developing (“environmental laws”). The particular environmental laws that apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions and the present and former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity. In addition, noncompliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties, obligations to remediate, permit revocations or other sanctions; and contamination or other environmental conditions at or in the vicinity of our developments may result in claims against us for personal injury, property damage or other losses. In March 2013, we received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) requesting information about our involvement in a housing redevelopment project in Newark, New Jersey that a Company entity undertook during the 1990s. We understand that the development is in the vicinity of a former lead smelter and that recent tests on soil samples from properties within the development conducted by the EPA show elevated levels of lead. We also understand that the smelter ceased operations many years before the Company entity involved acquired the properties in the area and carried out the re-development project. We responded to the EPA’s request. In August 2013, we were notified that the EPA considers us a potentially responsible party (or “PRP”) with respect to the site, that the EPA will clean up the site, and that the EPA is proposing that we fund and/or contribute towards the cleanup of the contamination at the site. We have begun preliminary discussions with the EPA concerning a possible resolution but do not know the scope or extent of the Company’s obligations, if any, that may arise from the site and therefore cannot provide any assurance that this matter will not have a material impact on the Company. The EPA requested additional information in April 2014 and the Company has responded to its information request. We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. Although we cannot reliably predict the extent of any effect these requirements may have on us, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, our ability to obtain or renew permits or approvals and the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretations and application. The Company was also involved in the following litigation: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and K. Hovnanian Venture I, L.L.C. (collectively, the “Company Defendants”) were named as defendants in a class action suit. The action was filed by Mike D’Andrea and Tracy D’Andrea, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Gloucester County. The action was initially filed on May 8, 2006 alleging that the HVAC systems installed in certain of the Company’s homes are in violation of applicable New Jersey building codes and are a potential safety issue. The plaintiff class was seeking unspecified damages as well as treble damages pursuant to the NJ Consumer Fraud Act. The Company Defendants, the Company Defendants’ insurance carriers and the plaintiff class agreed to the terms of a settlement on May 15, 2014 in which the plaintiff class was to receive a payment of $21 million in settlement of all claims, with the majority of the settlement being funded by the Company Defendants’ insurance carriers. The Company had previously reserved for its share of the settlement. The Superior Court approved the settlement agreement on December 23, 2014, and the judgment became final on February 20, 2015, when no appeal was taken. The settlement amount was paid in full and the class action matter is now concluded. The Company Defendants’ separate action seeking indemnification against the various manufacturers and subcontractors implicated by the class action is ongoing. The Company had been involved in a dispute with XL, its insurance carrier for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, regarding coverage issues pertaining to the fiscal year 2006 insurance policy. Specifically, XL maintained that the Company had not satisfied its aggregate retention of $21 million for fiscal 2006 and therefore the Company’s submitted claims in excess of the aggregate retention for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 were not reimbursable by XL under the policy terms. To date, the Company has not met the aggregate retention for any of the other policy years. The Company provided XL with detailed information to support its position that the fiscal year 2006 aggregate retention has been exceeded by more than $30 million; however, XL disputed the Company’s interpretation of certain definitions within the policy and therefore was denying coverage. Because the parties were not successful in discussions to resolve the matter, the Company filed a Notice of Claim on November 26, 2014 with an arbitration panel, appointed by the Company and XL, in London to begin arbitration proceedings. In mid-2015, discovery commenced for both parties with documentation exchanged and motions heard with the arbitration panel. In June 2015, XL and the Company agreed to a two day mediation, which occurred in early September 2015 in London. As a consequence of the mediation, an agreement was reached under which XL made a payment in October 2015 to the Company to fully settle coverage for its 2006 and 2007 insurance policy years. The Company is therefore self-insured for those policy years (policy years 2008 through 2010 remain in effect) . There was no financial impact from the settlement. For an additional discussion of construction defect reserves, see Note 16.

Note 19 - Variable Interest Ent

Note 19 - Variable Interest Entities	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Text Block]	19. Variable Interest Entities The Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts to procure land or lots for the construction of homes. Under these contracts, the Company will fund a stated deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. Under the terms of the option purchase contracts, many of the option deposits are not refundable at the Company's discretion. Under the requirements of ASC 810, certain option purchase contracts may result in the creation of a variable interest in the entity (“VIE”) that owns the land parcel under option. In compliance with ASC 810, the Company analyzes its option purchase contracts to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Although the Company does not have legal title to the underlying land, ASC 810 requires the Company to consolidate a VIE if the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers, among other things, whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. Such activities would include, among other things, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. The Company also considers whether it has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. As a result of its analyses, the Company determined that as of October 31, 2015 and 2014, it was not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which it is purchasing land under option purchase contracts. We will continue to secure land and lots using options, some of which are with VIEs. Including deposits on our unconsolidated VIEs, at October 31 , 2015, we had total cash deposits amounting to $82.8 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $1.4 billion. The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits plus any pre-development costs invested in the property, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.

Note 20 - Investments in Uncons

Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	20. Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures We enter into homebuilding and land development joint ventures from time to time as a means of accessing lot positions, expanding our market opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, managing our risk profile, leveraging our capital base and enhancing returns on capital. Our homebuilding joint ventures are generally entered into with third-party investors to develop land and construct homes that are sold directly to third-party home buyers. Our land development joint ventures include those entered into with developers and other homebuilders as well as financial investors to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s members or other third parties. The tables set forth below summarize the combined financial information related to our unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method. October 31, 2015 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $27,856 $1,755 $29,611 Inventories 314,814 11,767 326,581 Other assets 11,225 - 11,225 Total assets $353,895 $13,522 $367,417 Liabilities and equity: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $29,994 $669 $30,663 Notes payable 112,554 3,774 116,328 Total liabilities 142,548 4,443 146,991 Equity of: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. 57,336 3,122 60,458 Others 154,011 5,957 159,968 Total equity 211,347 9,079 220,426 Total liabilities and equity $353,895 $13,522 $367,417 Debt to capitalization ratio 35 % 29 % 35 % October 31, 2014 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $22,415 $205 $22,620 Inventories 208,620 16,194 224,814 Other assets 11,986 - 11,986 Total assets $243,021 $16,399 $259,420 Liabilities and equity: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $27,175 $1,039 $28,214 Notes payable 45,506 5,650 51,156 Total liabilities 72,681 6,689 79,370 Equity of: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. 59,106 2,990 62,096 Others 111,234 6,720 117,954 Total equity 170,340 9,710 180,050 Total liabilities and equity $243,021 $16,399 $259,420 Debt to capitalization ratio 21 % 37 % 22 % As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, we had advances outstanding of $0.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures, which were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the tables above. On our Consolidated Balance Sheets, our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $61.2 million and $63.9 million at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For The Year Ended October 31, 2015 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $122,192 $6,782 $128,974 Cost of sales and expenses (125,652 ) (6,518 ) (132,170 ) Joint venture net (loss) income $(3,460 ) $264 $(3,196 ) Our share of net (loss) income $4,087 $132 $4,219 For The Year Ended October 31, 2014 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $173,126 $7,888 $181,014 Cost of sales and expenses (158,233 ) (7,313 ) (165,546 ) Joint venture net income $14,893 $575 $15,468 Our share of net income $7,710 $287 $7,997 For The Year Ended October 31, 2013 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $307,993 $14,659 $322,652 Cost of sales and expenses (276,795 ) (9,396 ) (286,191 ) Joint venture net income $31,198 $5,263 $36,461 Our share of net income $9,581 $2,631 $12,212 “Income from unconsolidated joint ventures” is reflected as a separate line in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the income or loss of these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures. The difference between our share of the income or loss from these unconsolidated joint ventures in the tables above compared to the Consolidated Statements of Operations is due primarily to the reclassification of the intercompany portion of management fee income from certain joint ventures and the deferral of income for lots purchased by us from certain joint ventures. To compensate us for the administrative services we provide as the manager of certain joint ventures we receive a management fee based on a percentage of the applicable joint venture’s revenues. These management fees, which totaled $5.2 million, $7.5 million and $13.2 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are recorded in “Homebuilding: Selling, general and administrative” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures that we manage, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture. In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the operations and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets in the ordinary course of business. Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing. The amount of financing is generally targeted to be no more than 50% of the joint venture’s total assets. For some of our joint ventures, obtaining financing was challenging, therefore, some of our joint ventures are capitalized only with equity. Including the impact of impairments recorded by the joint ventures, the total debt to capitalization ratio of all our joint ventures is currently 35%. Any joint venture financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental warranties and indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing. In some instances, the joint venture entity is considered a VIE under ASC 810-10 “Consolidation – Overall” due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financi

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	21. Fair Value of Financial Instruments ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," provides a framework for measuring fair value, expands disclosures about fair-value measurements and establishes a fair-value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value summarized as follows: Level 1: Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 2: Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs. Level 3: Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs. Our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below: (In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Fair Value at October 31, 2015 Fair Value at October 31, 2014 Mortgage loans held for sale (1) Level 2 $129,818 $95,643 Interest rate lock commitments Level 2 (7 ) 15 Forward contracts Level 2 509 (320 ) Total $130,320 $95,338 (1) The aggregate unpaid principal balance is $122.7 million and $91.2 million at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We elected the fair value option for our loans held for sale for mortgage loans originated subsequent to October 31, 2008, in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” which permits us to measure financial instruments at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis. Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held for sale improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Fair value of loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage loans with similar characteristics. The Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $707.5 million at October 31, 2015. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled $60.1 million as of October 31, 2015. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments is expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Financial Services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory MBS to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is managed by entering into MBS forward commitments, option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’s credit standards. The segment’s risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At October 31, 2015, the segment had open commitments amounting to $26.5 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through November 19, 2015. The assets accounted for using the fair value option are initially measured at fair value. Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in the Financial Services segment’s income. The changes in fair values that are included in income are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below: Year Ended October 31, 2015 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net (loss) income all reflected in financial services revenues $(284 ) $(22 ) $829 Year Ended October 31, 2014 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net (loss) income all reflected in financial services revenues $(1,518 ) $(354 ) $835 Year Ended October 31, 2013 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net income (loss) all reflected in financial services revenues $1,604 $378 $(1,276 ) The Company's assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those assets for which the Company has recorded valuation adjustments and write-offs during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014. The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are all within the Company's Homebuilding operations and are summarized below: Nonfinancial Assets Year Ended October 31, 2015 (In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Pre- Impairment Amount Total Losses Fair Value Sold and unsold homes and lots under development Level 3 $29,438 $(7,357 ) $22,081 Land and land options held for future development or sale Level 3 $- $- $- Nonfinancial Assets Year Ended October 31, 2014 (In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Pre- Impairment Amount Total Losses Fair Value Sold and unsold homes and lots under development Level 3 $3,841 $(900 ) $2,941 Land and land options held for future development or sale Level 3 $572 $(278 ) $294 We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments. We recorded inventory impairments, which are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as “Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventory, of $7.3 million, $1.2 million and $2.4 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 12 for a further detail of the communities evaluated for impairment. The fair value of our cash equivalents , restricted cash and cash equivalents and borrowings under the revolving credit facility approximates their carrying amount, based on Level 1 inputs. The fair value of each series of the senior unsecured notes (other than the senior exchangeable notes and the senior amortizing notes) is estimated based on recent trades or quoted market prices for the same issues or based on recent trades or quoted market prices for our debt of similar security and maturity to achieve comparable yields, which are Level 2 measurements. As of October 31, 2015, the 7.0% Senior Notes due 2019 (the”2019 Notes”) have been included with the Level 2 measurements due to the availability of quoted market prices as compared to October 31, 2014 where they were included with Level 3 measurements. The fair value of the senior unsecured notes (all series in the aggregate), other than the senior exchangeable notes and senior amortizing notes, was estimated at $689.6 million as of October 31, 2015. As of October 31, 2014, the fair value of the senior unsecured notes (all series in the aggregate), other than the 2019 Notes, senior exchangeable notes and senior amortizing notes, were estimated at $464.4 million. The fair value of each of the senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), the senior amortizing notes and the senior exchangeable notes is estimated based on third party broker quotes, a Level 3 measurement. The fair value of the senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), the senior amortizing notes and the senior exchangeable notes were estimated at $869.4 million, $12.8 million and $69.0 million, respectively, as of October 31, 2015. As of October 31, 2014, the fair value of the 2019 Notes, senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes were estimated at $148.2 million, $1.0 billion, $17.0 million and $79.6 million, respectively.

Note 22 - Financial Information

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]
Condensed Financial Statements [Text Block]	22. Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., the parent company (the “Parent”), is the issuer of publicly traded common stock and preferred stock, which is represented by depository shares. One of its wholly owned subsidiaries, K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), acts as a finance entity that , as of October 31, 2015, had issued and outstanding $992.0 million of senior secured notes ($981.3 million, net of discount), $780.3 million senior notes $12.8 million senior amortizing notes and $73.8 million senior exchangeable notes (issued as components of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units). The senior secured notes, senior notes, senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Parent. In addition to the Parent, each of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Parent other than the Subsidiary Issuer (collectively, “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), with the exception of our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures, subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and our foreign subsidiary (collectively, the “Nonguarantor Subsidiaries”), have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer to pay principal and interest under the senior secured notes (other than the 2021 Notes), senior notes, senior exchangeable notes and senior amortizing notes. The Guarantor Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly 100% owned subsidiaries of the Parent. The 2021 Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantor Subsidiaries and the members of the Secured Group (see Note 9). The senior unsecured notes (except for the 2019 Notes and the 8 .0% Senior Notes due 2019), senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The 2019 Notes, the 8 .0% Senior Notes due 2019, the 2020 Secured Notes and the 2021 Notes (see Note 9) are not, pursuant to the indentures under which such notes were issued, required to be registered. The Consolidating Financial Statements presented below are in respect of our registered notes only and not the 2019 Notes, the 8 .0% Senior Notes due 2019, the 2020 Secured Notes or the 2021 Notes (however, the Guarantor Subsidiaries for the 2019 Notes, the 8 .0% Senior Notes due 2019 and the 2020 Secured Notes are the same as those represented by the accompanying Consolidating Financial Statements). In lieu of providing separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries of our registered notes, we have included the accompanying Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements. Therefore, separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning such Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented. The following Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) the Parent, (ii) the Subsidiary Issuer, (iii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries, (iv) the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries and (v) the eliminations to arrive at the information for Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. on a consolidated basis. CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET OCTOBER 31, 2015 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Assets: Homebuilding $- $230,358 $1,553,811 $367,869 $- $2,152,038 Financial services 15,680 144,301 159,981 Income taxes receivable 128,176 (89,212 ) 251,293 22 290,279 Intercompany receivable 1,575,712 58,280 (1,633,992 ) - Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries 1,013 383,032 (384,045 ) - Total assets $128,176 $1,717,871 $2,203,816 $570,472 $(2,018,037 ) $2,602,298 Liabilities and equity: Homebuilding $3,076 $87 $588,854 $65,947 $- $657,964 Financial services 15,677 121,106 136,783 Notes payable 1,933,119 2,132 384 1,935,635 Intercompany payable 180,681 1,453,311 (1,633,992 ) - Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries 72,503 (72,503 ) - Stockholders’ (deficit) equity (128,084 ) (215,335 ) 143,842 383,035 (311,542 ) (128,084 ) Total liabilities and equity $128,176 $1,717,871 $2,203,816 $570,472 $(2,018,037 ) $2,602,298 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET OCTOBER 31, 2014 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Assets: Homebuilding $- $195,177 $1,336,716 $353,151 $- $1,885,044 Financial services 11,407 108,936 120,343 Income taxes receivable 244,391 40,152 284,543 Intercompany receivable 1,275,453 36,161 (1,311,614 ) - Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries 338,044 (338,044 ) - Total assets $244,391 $1,470,630 $1,726,319 $498,248 $(1,649,658 ) $2,289,930 Liabilities and equity: Homebuilding $2,842 $160 $544,088 $71,663 $- $618,753 Financial services 11,210 87,987 99,197 Notes payable 1,685,892 3,336 551 1,689,779 Intercompany payable 308,700 1,002,914 (1,311,614 ) - Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries 50,648 11,902 (62,550 ) - Stockholders’ (deficit) equity (117,799 ) (227,324 ) 164,771 338,047 (275,494 ) (117,799 ) Total liabilities and equity $244,391 $1,470,630 $1,726,319 $498,248 $(1,649,658 ) $2,289,930 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2015 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $ - $ - $ 1,778,700 $ 313,115 $ - $ 2,091,815 Financial services 8,685 47,980 56,665 Intercompany charges 124,361 - (124,361 ) - Total revenues - 124,361 1,787,385 361,095 (124,361 ) 2,148,480 Expenses: Homebuilding 5,125 155,773 1,686,726 294,818 2,142,442 Financial services 105 6,490 25,377 - 31,972 Intercompany charges 124,360 1 (124,361 ) - Total expenses 5,230 155,773 1,817,576 320,196 (124,361 ) 2,174,414 Income from unconsolidated joint ventures - 82 4,087 4,169 (Loss) income before income taxes (5,230 ) (31,412 ) (30,109 ) 44,986 - (21,765 ) State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (10,985 ) (30,486 ) 35,808 (2 ) (5,665 ) Equity in (loss) income from ubsidiaries (21,855 ) 12,915 44,988 (36,048 ) - Net (loss) income $ (16,100 ) $ 11,989 $ (20,929 ) $ 44,988 $ (36,048 ) $ (16,100 ) CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2014 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $25 $- $1,651,343 $369,598 $- $2,020,966 Financial services 9,572 32,842 42,414 Intercompany charges 100,878 (100,878 ) - Total revenues 25 100,878 1,660,915 402,440 (100,878 ) 2,063,380 Expenses: Homebuilding 3,286 131,730 1,549,659 336,651 2,021,326 Financial services 20 6,832 21,764 28,616 Intercompany charges 100,878 (100,878 ) - Total expenses 3,306 131,730 1,657,369 358,415 (100,878 ) 2,049,942 Loss on extinguishment of debt (1,155 ) (1,155 ) Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 94 7,803 7,897 Income (loss) before income taxes (3,281 ) (32,007 ) 3,640 51,828 - 20,180 State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (298,775 ) (908 ) 12,719 (286,964 ) Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries 11,650 (14,177 ) 51,828 (49,301 ) - Net income (loss) $307,144 $(45,276 ) $42,749 $51,828 $(49,301 ) $307,144 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2013 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $3 $(235 ) $1,497,016 $311,730 $(4,988 ) $1,803,526 Financial services 9,386 38,341 47,727 Intercompany charges 81,816 (104,212 ) (2,325 ) 24,721 - Total revenues 3 81,581 1,402,190 347,746 19,733 1,851,253 Expenses: Homebuilding 8,608 123,511 1,373,360 295,390 10,670 1,811,539 Financial services 17 6,721 22,321 29,059 Total expenses 8,625 123,511 1,380,081 317,711 10,670 1,840,598 (Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt (770,769 ) 770,009 (760 ) Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 2,327 9,713 12,040 Income (loss) before income taxes (8,622 ) (812,699 ) 794,445 39,748 9,063 21,935 State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (21,541 ) 12,181 (9,360 ) Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries 18,376 (11,514 ) 39,748 (46,610 ) - Net income (loss) $31,295 $(824,213 ) $822,012 $39,748 $(37,547 ) $31,295 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2015 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net (loss) income $(16,100 ) $11,989 $(20,929 ) $44,988 $(36,048 ) $(16,100 ) Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 122,264 110,820 (456,704 ) (116,863 ) 36,048 (304,435 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 106,164 122,809 (477,633 ) (71,875 ) - (320,535 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property and assets 1,556 17 1,573 Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions (2,054 ) (2,054 ) Decrease in restricted cash related to mortgage company 1,555 1,555 Decrease in restricted cash related to letters of credit 2,993 2,993 Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures 16 (114 ) (18,609 ) (18,707 ) Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures 315 646 16,151 17,112 Intercompany investing activities (313,174 ) 313,174 - Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - (309,850 ) 34 (886 ) 313,174 2,472 Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from mortgages and notes 27,881 11,502 39,383 Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs 17,117 5,867 22,984 Net payments from land bank financing programs (6,198 ) (1,147 ) (7,345 ) Proceeds from senior notes 250,000 250,000 Payments related to senior notes (60,815 ) (60,815 ) Borrowings from revolving credit facility 47,000 47,000 Net proceeds related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit 31,956 31,956 Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances (5,096 ) (2,732 ) (1,187 ) (9,015 ) Principal payments on amortizing and debt repurchases (4,238 ) (4,238 ) Intercompany financing activities (106,164 ) 441,457 (22,119 ) (313,174 ) - Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (106,164 ) 226,851 477,525 24,872 (313,174 ) 309,910 Net (decrease) increase in cash - 39,810 (74 ) (47,889 ) - (8,153 ) Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period - 159,508 (4,726 ) 107,116 - 261,898 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $199,318 $(4,800 ) $59,227 $- $253,745 C ONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2014 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $307,144 $(45,276 ) $42,749 $51,828 $(49,301 ) $307,144 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (277,932 ) 14,334 (303,507 ) 20,075 49,301 (497,729 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 29,212 (30,942 ) (260,758 ) 71,903 - (190,585 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property and assets 467 48 515 Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions (3,395 ) (28 ) (3,423 ) (Increase) in restricted cash related to mortgage company (655 ) (655 ) Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures (95 ) (831 ) (20,773 ) (21,699 ) Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures 203 3,787 7,117 11,107 Intercompany investing activities (167,370 ) 167,370 - Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities - (167,262 ) 28 (14,291 ) 167,370 (14,155 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from mortgages and notes 39,345 1,425 40,770 Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs 17,232 1,982 19,214 Net payments from land bank financing programs (8,297 ) (9,009 ) (17,306 ) Net proceeds from senior notes 121,447 121,447 Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit (14,744 ) (14,744 ) Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances (7,205 ) (4,051 ) (691 ) (11,947 ) Intercompany financing activities (29,212 ) 218,254 (21,672 ) (167,370 ) - Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (29,212 ) 114,242 262,483 (42,709 ) (167,370 ) 137,434 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents - (83,962 ) 1,753 14,903 - (67,306 ) Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period 243,470 (6,479 ) 92,213 329,204 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $159,508 $(4,726 ) $107,116 $- $261,898 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2013 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $31,295 $(824,213 ) $822,012 $39,748 $(37,547 ) $31,295 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 29,653 797,892 (875,287 ) (11,832 ) 37,547 (22,027 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 60,948 (26,321 ) (53,275 ) 27,916 - 9,268 Net cash provided by investing activities 235 11,819 18,231 - 30,285 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6,139 ) 52,914 (30,356 ) - 16,419 Intercompany financing activities - net (60,948 ) 78,598 (15,920 ) (1,730 ) - - Net increase (decrease) in cash - 46,373 (4,462 ) 14,061 - 55,972 Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period - 197,097 (2,017 ) 78,152 - 273,232 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $243,470 $(6,479 ) $92,213 $- $329,204

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarized

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarized Consolidated Quarterly Information	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]	23. Unaudited Summarized Consolidated Quarterly Information Summarized quarterly financial information for the years ended October 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows: Three Months Ended (In t housands , e xcept p er s hare d ata) October 31, 201 5 July 31, 201 5 April 30, 201 5 January 31, 201 5 Revenues $693,204 $540,613 $468,949 $445,714 Expenses 653,080 549,089 495,585 464,616 Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs 4,426 1,077 4,311 2,230 Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures 1,699 (448 ) 1,466 1,452 Income (loss) before income taxes 37,397 (10,001 ) (29,481 ) (19,680 ) State and federal income tax provision (benefit) 11,878 (2,317 ) (9,922 ) (5,304 ) Net income (loss) $25,519 $(7,684 ) $(19,559 ) $(14,376 ) Per share data: Basic: Income (loss) per common share $0.17 $(0.05 ) $(0.13 ) $(0.10 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 147,057 147,010 146,946 146,929 Assuming dilution: Income (loss) per common share $0.16 $(0.05 ) $(0.13 ) $(0.10 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 160,299 147,010 146,946 146,929 Three Months Ended (In t housands , e xcept p er s hare d ata) October 31, 201 4 July 31, 201 4 April 30, 201 4 January 31, 201 4 Revenues $698,394 $551,009 $449,929 $364,048 Expenses 663,149 535,107 456,617 389,845 Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs 3,297 741 522 664 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - (1,155 ) - Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 4,048 211 1,067 2,571 Income (loss) before income taxes 35,996 15,372 (7,298 ) (23,890 ) State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (286,468 ) (1,733 ) 604 633 Net income (loss) $322,464 $17,105 $(7,902 ) $(24,523 ) Per share data: Basic: Income (loss) per common share $2.15 $0.11 $(0.05 ) $(0.17 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 146,413 146,365 146,325 145,982 Assuming dilution: Income (loss) per common share $1.95 $0.11 $(0.05 ) $(0.17 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 161,720 162,278 146,325 145,982

Note 24 - Subsequent Events

Note 24 - Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	24. Subsequent Events During December 2015, the Company announced a $175.0 million increase in our land banking arrangement with GSO Capital Partners LP (“GSO”), whereby funds managed by GSO expect to acquire a portfolio of land parcels from the Company and option finished lots on a monthly takedown basis back to the Company subject to a cost of carry. We will receive a majority of the $175.0 million funds available under our land banking program at the time we sell our existing land parcels to GSO. The remainder of the land banking program’s funds will be paid to us by GSO as reimbursement of our land development costs as incurred. In November 2015, the Company entered into a new joint venture on a land parcel we previously owned. Upon formation of the joint venture, the Company received $25.7 million of cash proceeds for our contribution of land to the joint venture.

Accounting Policies, by Policy

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income Recognition from Home and Land Sales Income Recognition from Mortgage Loans - We elected the fair value option for our mortgage loans held for sale in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments, ” Substantially all of the mortgage loans originated are sold within a short period of time in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, nonrecourse basis, although the Company remains liable for certain limited representations, such as fraud, and warranties related to loan sales. Mortgage investors could seek to have us buy back loans or compensate them from losses incurred on mortgages we have sold based on claims that we breached our limited representations and warranties. We believe there continues to be an industry-wide issue with the number of purchaser claims in which purchasers purport to have found inaccuracies related to the sellers’ representations and warranties in particular loan sale agreements. We have established reserves for probable losses.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and Cash Equivalents
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Inventories We record inventories in our consolidated balance sheets at cost unless the inventory is determined to be impaired, in which case the inventory is written down to its fair value. Our inventories consist of the following three components: (1) sold and unsold homes and lots under development, which includes all construction, land, capitalized interest and land development costs related to started homes and land under development in our active communities; (2) land and land options held for future development or sale, which includes all costs related to land in our communities in planning or mothballed communities; and (3) consolidated inventory not owned, which includes all costs related to specific performance options, variable interest entities, and other options, which consists primarily of model homes financed with an investor and inventory related to land banking arrangements accounted for as financings. We decide to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine that the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified on our Consolidated Balance Sheets from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale.” During fiscal 2015, we did not mothball any additional communities, or sell any mothballed communities, but re-activated 14 communities which were previously mothballed. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, the net book value associated with our 31 and 45 total mothballed communities was $103.0 million and $103.3 million, respectively, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $334.5 million and $412.4 million, respectively . From time to time we enter into option agreements that include specific performance requirements, whereby we are required to purchase a minimum number of lots. Because of our obligation to purchase these lots, for accounting purposes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-20-40-38, we are required to record this inventory on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, we had $1.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of specific performance options recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets to “Consolidated inventory not owned — specific performance options,” with a corresponding liability of $1.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned.” We sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, at October 31, 2015 and 2014, inventory of $95.9 million and $70.4 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned – other options,” with a corresponding amount of $87.9 million and $64.9 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell our land parcels to the land banker and they provide us an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, at October 31, 2015 and 2014, inventory of $25.1 million and $35.0 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned – other options,” with a corresponding amount of $16.8 million and $24.1 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. The recoverability of inventories and other long-lived assets is assessed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment – Overall,” ASC 360-10 requires long-lived assets, including inventories, held for development to be evaluated for impairment based on undiscounted future cash flows of the assets at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows. As such, we evaluate inventories for impairment at the individual community level, the lowest level of discrete cash flows that we measure. We evaluate inventories of communities under development and held for future development for impairment when indicators of potential impairment are present. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, decreases in local housing market values, decreases in gross margins or sales absorption rates, decreases in net sales prices (base sales price net of sales incentives), or actual or projected operating or cash flow losses. The assessment of communities for indication of impairment is performed quarterly. As part of this process, we prepare detailed budgets for all of our communities at least semi-annually and identify those communities with a projected operating loss. For those communities with projected losses, we estimate the remaining undiscounted future cash flows and compare those to the carrying value of the community, to determine if the carrying value of the asset is recoverable. The projected operating profits, losses or cash flows of each community can be significantly impacted by our estimates of the following: ● future base selling prices; ● future home sales incentives; ● future home construction and land development costs; and ● future sales absorption pace and cancellation rates. These estimates are dependent upon specific market conditions for each community. While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the end of a quarterly reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change. Local market-specific conditions that may impact our estimates for a community include: ● the intensity of competition within a market, including available home sales prices and home sales incentives offered by our competitors; ● the current sales absorption pace for both our communities and competitor communities; ● community-specific attributes, such as location, availability of lots in the market, desirability and uniqueness of our community, and the size and style of homes currently being offered; ● potential for alternative product offerings to respond to local market conditions; ● changes by management in the sales strategy of the community; ● current local market economic and demographic conditions and related trends and forecasts; and ● existing home inventory supplies, including foreclosures and short sales. These and other local market-specific conditions that may be present are considered by management in preparing projection assumptions for each community. The sales objectives can differ between our communities, even within a given market. For example, facts and circumstances in a given community may lead us to price our homes with the objective of yielding a higher sales absorption pace, while facts and circumstances in another community may lead us to price our homes to minimize deterioration in our gross margins, although it may result in a slower sales absorption pace. In addition, the key assumptions included in our estimate of future undiscounted cash flows may be interrelated. For example, a decrease in estimated base sales price or an increase in homes sales incentives may result in a corresponding increase in sales absorption pace. Additionally, a decrease in the average sales price of homes to be sold and closed in future reporting periods for one community that has not been generating what management believes to be an adequate sales absorption pace may impact the estimated cash flow assumptions of a nearby community. Changes in our key assumptions, including estimated construction and development costs, absorption pace and selling strategies, could materially impact future cash flow and fair value estimates. Due to the number of possible scenarios that would result from various changes in these factors, we do not believe it is possible to develop a sensitivity analysis with a level of precision that would be meaningful to an investor. If the undiscounted cash flows are more than the carrying value of the community, then the carrying amount is recoverable, and no impairment adjustment is required. However, if the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is deemed impaired and is written down to its fair value. We determine the estimated fair value of each community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community, or in limited circumstances, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale), and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties. Our discount rates used for all impairments recorded from October 31, 2013 to October 31, 2015 ranged from 16.8% to 19.8%. The estimated future cash flow assumptions are virtually the same for both our recoverability and fair value assessments. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value, including discount rates, decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments related to current and future communities. The impairment of a community is allocated to each lot on a relative fair value basis. From time to time, we write off deposits and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs when we determine that it is no longer probable that we will exercise options to buy land in specific locations or when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs. In deciding not to exercise a land option, we take into consideration changes in market conditions, the timing of required land takedowns, the willingness of land sellers to modify terms of the land option contract (including timing of land takedowns), and the availability and best use of our capital, among other factors. The write-off is recorded in the period it is deemed not probable that the optioned property will be acquired. In certain instances, we have been able to recover deposits and other pre-acquisition costs that were previously written off. These recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off. Inventories held for sale are land parcels ready for sale in their current condition, where we have decided not to build homes but are instead actively marketing for sale. These land parcels represented $1.3 million and $0.6 million of our total inventories at October 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties.
Post Development Completion Warranty Costs and Insurance Deductible Reserves Policy [Policy Text Block]	Post-Development Completion, Warranty Costs Insurance Deductible Reserves We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes delivered in fiscal 2015 and 2014, our deductible under our general liability insurance is a $20 million aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $0.25 million, up to a $5 million limit. Our aggregate retention in fiscal 2015 and 2014 is $21 million for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims. We do not have a deductible on our worker's compensation insurance. Reserves for estimated losses for construction defects, warranty and bodily injury claims have been established using the assistance of a third-party actuary. We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty and construction defect data to assist our management in estimating our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and construction defect programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees. These estimates are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in construction defect claims relative to our markets and the types of products we build, claim settlement patterns, insurance industry practices and legal interpretations, among others. Because of the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated liability amounts, actual future costs could differ significantly from our currently estimated amounts. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. See Note 16 for additional information on the amount of warranty costs recognized in cost of goods sold and administrative expenses.
Inventory, Interest Capitalization Policy [Policy Text Block]	Interest Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were: Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Interest capitalized at beginning of year $109,158 $105,093 $116,056 Plus interest incurred(1) 166,188 145,409 132,611 Less cost of sales interest expensed 59,613 53,966 52,230 Less other interest expensed(2)(3) 91,835 87,378 91,344 Interest capitalized at end of year(4) $123,898 $109,158 $105,093 (1) Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries. (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. Also includes interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed. (3) 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: Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Other interest expensed $91,835 $87,378 $91,344 Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries 2,050 1,969 2,975 Increase in accrued interest (8,166 ) (3,961 ) (8,062 ) Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest $85,719 $85,386 $86,257 (4) Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating any portion of impairments, if any, to capitalized interest.
Land under Option Arrangements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Land Options -
Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures -
Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Deferred Bond Issuance Costs -
Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Debt Issued At a Discount -
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Advertising Costs
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Deferred Income Taxes - In evaluating the exposures associated with our various tax filing positions, we recognize tax liabilities in accordance with ASC 740-10, for more likely than not exposures. We re-evaluate the exposures associated with our tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, new audit activity by taxing authorities, and effectively settled issues. Determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled requires judgment. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have established a liability is audited and fully resolved or clarified. We adjust our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and income tax provision in the period in which an uncertain tax position is effectively settled, or the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when more information becomes available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate. Any such changes will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined.
Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]	Depreciation -
Prepaid Expenses Policy [Policy Text Block]	Prepaid Expenses -
Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]	Stock Options - ,” which requires the fair-value based method of accounting for stock awards granted to employees and measures and records the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Compensation cost arising from nonvested stock granted to employees and from nonemployee stock awards is based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date recognized as expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Per Share Calculations - All outstanding nonvested shares that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents that participate in undistributed earnings with common stock are considered participating securities and are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and participation rights in undistributed earnings in periods where we have net income. The Company’s restricted common stock (“nonvested shares”) are considered participating securities.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue that represents the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount equivalent to the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The following steps should be applied to determine this amount: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASU 605, “Revenue Recognition ,” and most industry-specific guidance in the Accounting Standards Codification. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 on this same topic, which defers for one year the effective date of ASU 2014-09, therefore making the guidance effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2018. Additionally, the FASB also decided to permit entities to early adopt the standard, which allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective methods of adoption, for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”), which requires management to perform interim and annual assessments on whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and to provide related disclosures, if required. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the Company for our fiscal year ending October 31, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”), which amends the consolidation requirements in ASC 810, primarily related to limited partnerships and VIEs. ASU 2015-02 is effective for the Company beginning on November 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2015-02 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest” (“ASU 2015-03”), which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. This new guidance is a change from the current treatment of recording debt issuance costs as an asset representing a deferred charge, and is consistent with the accounting treatment for debt discounts. The guidance, which requires retrospective application, is effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 will result in reclassification of our deferred bond issuance costs from assets to an offset of our notes payable on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, in August 2015, as a follow-up to ASU 2015-03, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30)” (“ASU 2015-15”). ASU 2015-15 addresses the presentation of debt issuance costs for line-of-credit arrangements, allowing an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-15 to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 3 - Summary of Significa33

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Real Estate Inventory Capitalized Interest Costs [Table Text Block]	Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Interest capitalized at beginning of year $109,158 $105,093 $116,056 Plus interest incurred(1) 166,188 145,409 132,611 Less cost of sales interest expensed 59,613 53,966 52,230 Less other interest expensed(2)(3) 91,835 87,378 91,344 Interest capitalized at end of year(4) $123,898 $109,158 $105,093
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Interest [Table Text Block]	Year Ended (Dollars in thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 October 31, 2013 Other interest expensed $91,835 $87,378 $91,344 Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries 2,050 1,969 2,975 Increase in accrued interest (8,166 ) (3,961 ) (8,062 ) Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest $85,719 $85,386 $86,257

Note 4 - Leases (Tables)

Note 4 - Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	Years Ending October 31, (In Thousands) 2016 $10,349 2017 6,147 2018 2,567 2019 1,562 2020 1,136 Thereafter 180 Total $21,941

Note 5 - Property, Plant and 35

Note 5 - Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Land and land improvements $2,398 $2,398 Buildings 67,039 66,871 Building improvements 7,145 9,660 Furniture 5,878 6,187 Equipment 35,103 35,227 Total 117,563 120,343 Less accumulated depreciation 72,029 73,599 Total $45,534 $46,744

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held 36

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held for Sale (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Loan origination reserves, beginning of period $7,352 $11,036 Provisions for losses during the period 221 3,814 Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates 452 (2,574 ) Payments/settlements (1) - (4,924 ) Loan origination reserves, end of period $8,025 $7,352

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Seni37

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	Year Ended (In thousands) October 31, 2015 October 31, 2014 Senior Secured Notes: 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due October 15, 2020 $577,000 $577,000 9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due November 15, 2020 220,000 220,000 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount) 53,139 53,129 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount) 131,207 129,806 Total Senior Secured Notes $981,346 $979,935 Senior Notes: 11.875% Senior Notes due October 15, 2015 (net of discount) $- $60,414 6.25% Senior Notes due January 15, 2016 (net of discount) 172,744 172,483 7.5% Senior Notes due May 15, 2016 86,532 86,532 8.625% Senior Notes due January 15, 2017 121,043 121,043 7.0% Senior Notes due January 15, 2019 150,000 150,000 8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2019 250,000 - Total Senior Notes $780,319 $590,472 11.0% Senior Amortizing Notes due December 1, 2017 $12,811 $17,049 Senior Exchangeable Notes due December 1, 2017 $73,771 $70,101
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]	Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2015 2016 $263,994 2017 126,293 2018 76,614 2019 150,000 2020 827,000 Thereafter 415,000 Total $1,858,901

Note 10 - Operating and Repor38

Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Tables) [Line Items]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Assets: Northeast $321,983 $315,573 Mid-Atlantic 342,159 313,494 Midwest 197,899 169,967 Southeast 223,206 148,096 Southwest 465,740 410,756 West 259,943 143,245 Total homebuilding 1,810,930 1,501,131 Financial services 159,981 120,343 Corporate and unallocated (1) 631,387 668,456 Total assets $2,602,298 $2,289,930 October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures: Northeast $12,340 $6,987 Mid-Atlantic 22,417 36,285 Midwest (20 ) 806 Southeast 10,224 4,787 Southwest - - West 16,122 14,562 Total homebuilding 61,083 63,427 Corporate and unallocated 126 456 Total investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures $61,209 $63,883
Operating Segments [Member]
Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Tables) [Line Items]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Revenues: Northeast $189,497 $275,830 $282,855 Mid-Atlantic 399,500 332,719 289,303 Midwest 311,449 226,174 163,485 Southeast 207,662 204,671 147,570 Southwest 823,853 751,426 697,358 West 159,969 230,308 223,086 Total homebuilding 2,091,930 2,021,128 1,803,657 Financial services 56,665 42,414 47,727 Corporate and unallocated (115 ) (162 ) (131 ) Total revenues $2,148,480 $2,063,380 $1,851,253 (Loss) income before income taxes: Northeast $(7,742 ) $(7,517 ) $1,519 Mid-Atlantic 21,431 23,897 24,388 Midwest 14,012 17,879 12,270 Southeast (6,330 ) 9,247 6,455 Southwest 67,437 74,527 76,459 West (17,145 ) 21,303 14,398 Total homebuilding 71,663 139,336 135,489 Financial services 24,693 13,798 18,668 Corporate and unallocated (118,121 ) (132,954 ) (132,222 ) (Loss) Income before income taxes $(21,765 ) $20,180 $21,935 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Homebuilding interest expense: Northeast $14,150 $20,940 $26,163 Mid-Atlantic 16,268 9,542 10,037 Midwest 10,405 5,354 3,737 Southeast 9,552 7,827 5,861 Southwest 26,147 20,543 16,071 West 10,381 12,619 12,960 Total homebuilding 86,903 76,825 74,829 Corporate and unallocated 64,545 64,519 68,745 Financial services interest expense (1) (1,066 ) (119 ) 499 Total interest expense, net $150,382 $141,225 $144,073 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Depreciation: Northeast $136 $250 $245 Mid-Atlantic 28 45 283 Midwest 361 355 528 Southeast 40 31 31 Southwest 89 131 163 West 79 33 148 Total homebuilding 733 845 1,398 Financial services 47 68 285 Corporate and unallocated 2,608 2,504 3,029 Total depreciation $3,388 $3,417 $4,712 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Net additions to operating properties and equipment: Northeast $- $44 $388 Mid-Atlantic 58 23 35 Midwest 637 927 279 Southeast 227 59 7 Southwest 173 39 44 West 88 170 19 Total homebuilding 1,183 1,262 772 Financial services - 28 6 Corporate and unallocated 871 2,133 780 Total net additions to operating properties and equipment $2,054 $3,423 $1,558 Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures: Northeast $856 $(1,302 ) $3,738 Mid-Atlantic 4,502 6,459 5,631 Midwest (105 ) 17 1,045 Southeast 1,213 2,119 1,287 Southwest - - - West (2,297 ) 604 339 Total equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures $4,169 $7,897 $12,040

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Tables)

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Payable Receivable [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 State income taxes: Current $2,151 $3,197 Deferred (11,148 ) (14,918 ) Federal income taxes: Current - - Deferred (281,282 ) (272,822 ) Total $(290,279 ) $(284,543 )
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 2013 Current income tax (benefit) expense: Federal (1) $(1,497 ) $(1,690 ) $(9,878 ) State (2) 523 2,466 518 Total current income tax (benefit) expense: (974 ) 776 (9,360 ) Federal (8,461 ) (272,822 ) - State 3,770 (14,918 ) - Total deferred income tax (benefit): (4,691 ) (287,740 ) - Total $(5,665 ) $(286,964 ) $(9,360 )
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Deferred tax assets: Depreciation $2,176 $2,407 Inventory impairment loss 210,716 219,487 Uniform capitalization of overhead 11,203 9,005 Warranty and legal reserves 13,319 14,342 Deferred income 682 547 Acquisition intangibles 13,374 18,014 Restricted stock bonus 8,191 7,121 Rent on abandoned space 1,888 2,830 Stock options 7,474 8,481 Provision for losses 36,350 43,585 Joint venture loss 2,891 5,633 Federal net operating losses 524,125 524,879 State net operating losses 169,046 176,225 Other 17,752 19,516 Total deferred tax assets 1,019,187 1,052,072 Deferred tax liabilities: Acquisition intangibles - 395 Debt repurchase income 91,452 121,934 Total deferred tax liabilities 91,452 122,329 Valuation allowance (635,305 ) (642,003 ) Net deferred income taxes $292,430 $287,740
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, 2015 2014 2013 Computed “expected” tax rate 35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (15.6 ) (3.5 ) 14.0 Permanent differences, net (0.4 ) 0.8 11.3 Deferred tax asset valuation allowance impact - (1,393.3 ) (66.2 ) Tax contingencies 3.2 (0.6 ) (36.8 ) Adjustments to prior years’ tax accruals 3.8 (60.4 ) - Effective tax rate 26.0 % (1,422.0 )% (42.7 ) %
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]	2015 2014 Unrecognized tax benefit—November 1, $1.7 $1.8 Gross increases—tax positions in current period 0.2 0.2 Decrease related to tax positions taken during a prior period - - Lapse of statute of limitations (0.8 ) (0.3 ) Unrecognized tax benefit—October 31, $1.1 $1.7

Note 12 - Reduction of Invent40

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Inventory Impairments And Land Option Cost Write Offs [Abstract]
Inventory Impairment [Table Text Block]	(Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2015 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 2 $0.8 $0.9 Mid-Atlantic 1 0.9 2.5 Midwest 4 1.3 8.4 Southeast 4 2.5 10.1 Southwest - - - West 1 1.8 7.5 Total 12 $7.3 $29.4 (Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2014 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 2 $0.3 $0.6 Mid-Atlantic - - - Midwest 3 0.9 3.8 Southeast - - - Southwest - - - West - - - Total 5 $1.2 $4.4 (Dollars in millions) Year Ended October 31, 2013 Number of Communities Dollar Amount of Impairment(2) Pre- Impairment Value (1) Northeast 4 $2.4 $7.7 Mid-Atlantic 1 - 0.1 Midwest - - - Southeast 1 - 0.4 Southwest - - - West - - - Total 6 $2.4 $8.2
Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In millions) 2015 2014 2013 Northeast $0.9 $0.9 $0.7 Mid-Atlantic 0.2 0.2 0.1 Midwest 0.6 1.0 0.2 Southeast 1.3 0.7 0.2 Southwest 1.4 1.2 1.4 West 0.3 - - Total $4.7 $4.0 $2.6

Note 13 - Per Share Calculati41

Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands, except per share data) 2015 2014 2013 Numerator: Net (loss) earnings attributable to Hovnanian $(16,100 ) $307,144 $31,295 Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares - (7,107 ) (58 ) Numerator for basic earnings per share $(16,100 ) $300,037 $31,237 Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares - 7,107 58 Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares - (7,127 ) (59 ) Plus: interest on senior exchangeable notes - 3,487 3,720 Numerator for diluted earnings per share $(16,100 ) $303,504 $34,956 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share 146,899 146,271 145,087 Effect of dilutive securities: Share-based payments - 1,013 1,396 Senior exchangeable notes - 15,157 15,846 Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding 146,899 162,441 162,329 Basic (loss) earnings per share $(0.11 ) $2.05 $0.22 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $(0.11 ) $1.87 $0.22

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Tables)

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]	Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Weighted-Average October 31, 2015 Exercise Price October 31, 2014 Exercise Price October 31, 2013 Exercise Price Options outstanding at beginning of period 6,720,251 $5.23 6,591,054 $5.74 6,019,070 $5.97 Granted 173,750 $2.47 376,822 $4.41 887,500 $6.28 Exercised 18,125 $2.48 42,375 $2.74 44,812 $2.67 Forfeited 203,436 $3.78 56,375 $2.66 76,500 $3.06 Expired 278,564 $15.04 148,875 $27.42 194,204 $16.92 Options outstanding at end of period 6,393,876 $4.78 6,720,251 $5.23 6,591,054 $5.74 Options exercisable at end of period 4,566,290 4,100,413 3,161,952
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	Number Weighted- Average Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Range of Exercise Prices Outstanding Exercise Price Life $1.66 – $5.00 4,515,001 $3.03 5.37 $5.01 – $10.00 1,611,750 $6.36 5.29 $10.01 – $20.00 - $- - $20.01 – $30.00 187,375 $21.78 1.59 $30.01 – $40.00 79,750 $32.33 0.55 6,393,876 $4.78 5.18 Number Weighted- Average Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Range of Exercise Prices Exercisable Exercise Price Life $1.66 – $5.00 3,432,415 $3.04 4.74 $5.01 – $10.00 866,750 $6.44 3.28 $10.01 – $20.00 - $- - $20.01 – $30.00 187,375 $21.78 1.59 $30.01 – $40.00 79,750 $32.33 0.55 4,566,290 $4.96 4.26
Schedule of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block]	Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Nonvested at beginning of period 2,459,138 $5.02 Granted 1,818,558 $2.66 Vested 626,190 $4.59 Forfeited 50,737 $5.53 Nonvested at end of period 3,600,769 $4.16

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Table

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, (In thousands) 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of period $178,008 $131,028 Additions – Selling, general and administrative 18,013 18,839 Additions – Cost of sales 15,308 11,115 Charges incurred during the period (49,131 ) (18,241 ) Changes to pre-existing reserves (17,125 ) (2,600 ) Changes to reserves where corresponding amounts are recorded as receivables from insurance carriers (10,020 ) 37,867 Balance, end of period $135,053 $178,008

Note 20 - Investments in Unco44

Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]	October 31, 2015 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $27,856 $1,755 $29,611 Inventories 314,814 11,767 326,581 Other assets 11,225 - 11,225 Total assets $353,895 $13,522 $367,417 Liabilities and equity: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $29,994 $669 $30,663 Notes payable 112,554 3,774 116,328 Total liabilities 142,548 4,443 146,991 Equity of: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. 57,336 3,122 60,458 Others 154,011 5,957 159,968 Total equity 211,347 9,079 220,426 Total liabilities and equity $353,895 $13,522 $367,417 Debt to capitalization ratio 35 % 29 % 35 % October 31, 2014 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $22,415 $205 $22,620 Inventories 208,620 16,194 224,814 Other assets 11,986 - 11,986 Total assets $243,021 $16,399 $259,420 Liabilities and equity: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $27,175 $1,039 $28,214 Notes payable 45,506 5,650 51,156 Total liabilities 72,681 6,689 79,370 Equity of: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. 59,106 2,990 62,096 Others 111,234 6,720 117,954 Total equity 170,340 9,710 180,050 Total liabilities and equity $243,021 $16,399 $259,420 Debt to capitalization ratio 21 % 37 % 22 % For The Year Ended October 31, 2015 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $122,192 $6,782 $128,974 Cost of sales and expenses (125,652 ) (6,518 ) (132,170 ) Joint venture net (loss) income $(3,460 ) $264 $(3,196 ) Our share of net (loss) income $4,087 $132 $4,219 For The Year Ended October 31, 2014 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $173,126 $7,888 $181,014 Cost of sales and expenses (158,233 ) (7,313 ) (165,546 ) Joint venture net income $14,893 $575 $15,468 Our share of net income $7,710 $287 $7,997 For The Year Ended October 31, 2013 (Dollars in thousands) Homebuilding Land Development Total Revenues $307,993 $14,659 $322,652 Cost of sales and expenses (276,795 ) (9,396 ) (286,191 ) Joint venture net income $31,198 $5,263 $36,461 Our share of net income $9,581 $2,631 $12,212

Note 21 - Fair Value of Finan45

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	(In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Fair Value at October 31, 2015 Fair Value at October 31, 2014 Mortgage loans held for sale (1) Level 2 $129,818 $95,643 Interest rate lock commitments Level 2 (7 ) 15 Forward contracts Level 2 509 (320 ) Total $130,320 $95,338
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, 2015 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net (loss) income all reflected in financial services revenues $(284 ) $(22 ) $829 Year Ended October 31, 2014 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net (loss) income all reflected in financial services revenues $(1,518 ) $(354 ) $835 Year Ended October 31, 2013 (In thousands) Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Interest Rate Lock Commitments Forward Contracts Changes in fair value included in net income (loss) all reflected in financial services revenues $1,604 $378 $(1,276 )
Fair Value Measurements, Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]	Year Ended October 31, 2015 (In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Pre- Impairment Amount Total Losses Fair Value Sold and unsold homes and lots under development Level 3 $29,438 $(7,357 ) $22,081 Land and land options held for future development or sale Level 3 $- $- $- Year Ended October 31, 2014 (In thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Pre- Impairment Amount Total Losses Fair Value Sold and unsold homes and lots under development Level 3 $3,841 $(900 ) $2,941 Land and land options held for future development or sale Level 3 $572 $(278 ) $294

Note 22 - Financial Informati46

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]
Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	(In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Assets: Homebuilding $- $230,358 $1,553,811 $367,869 $- $2,152,038 Financial services 15,680 144,301 159,981 Income taxes receivable 128,176 (89,212 ) 251,293 22 290,279 Intercompany receivable 1,575,712 58,280 (1,633,992 ) - Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries 1,013 383,032 (384,045 ) - Total assets $128,176 $1,717,871 $2,203,816 $570,472 $(2,018,037 ) $2,602,298 Liabilities and equity: Homebuilding $3,076 $87 $588,854 $65,947 $- $657,964 Financial services 15,677 121,106 136,783 Notes payable 1,933,119 2,132 384 1,935,635 Intercompany payable 180,681 1,453,311 (1,633,992 ) - Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries 72,503 (72,503 ) - Stockholders’ (deficit) equity (128,084 ) (215,335 ) 143,842 383,035 (311,542 ) (128,084 ) Total liabilities and equity $128,176 $1,717,871 $2,203,816 $570,472 $(2,018,037 ) $2,602,298 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Assets: Homebuilding $- $195,177 $1,336,716 $353,151 $- $1,885,044 Financial services 11,407 108,936 120,343 Income taxes receivable 244,391 40,152 284,543 Intercompany receivable 1,275,453 36,161 (1,311,614 ) - Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries 338,044 (338,044 ) - Total assets $244,391 $1,470,630 $1,726,319 $498,248 $(1,649,658 ) $2,289,930 Liabilities and equity: Homebuilding $2,842 $160 $544,088 $71,663 $- $618,753 Financial services 11,210 87,987 99,197 Notes payable 1,685,892 3,336 551 1,689,779 Intercompany payable 308,700 1,002,914 (1,311,614 ) - Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries 50,648 11,902 (62,550 ) - Stockholders’ (deficit) equity (117,799 ) (227,324 ) 164,771 338,047 (275,494 ) (117,799 ) Total liabilities and equity $244,391 $1,470,630 $1,726,319 $498,248 $(1,649,658 ) $2,289,930
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]	(In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $ - $ - $ 1,778,700 $ 313,115 $ - $ 2,091,815 Financial services 8,685 47,980 56,665 Intercompany charges 124,361 - (124,361 ) - Total revenues - 124,361 1,787,385 361,095 (124,361 ) 2,148,480 Expenses: Homebuilding 5,125 155,773 1,686,726 294,818 2,142,442 Financial services 105 6,490 25,377 - 31,972 Intercompany charges 124,360 1 (124,361 ) - Total expenses 5,230 155,773 1,817,576 320,196 (124,361 ) 2,174,414 Income from unconsolidated joint ventures - 82 4,087 4,169 (Loss) income before income taxes (5,230 ) (31,412 ) (30,109 ) 44,986 - (21,765 ) State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (10,985 ) (30,486 ) 35,808 (2 ) (5,665 ) Equity in (loss) income from ubsidiaries (21,855 ) 12,915 44,988 (36,048 ) - Net (loss) income $ (16,100 ) $ 11,989 $ (20,929 ) $ 44,988 $ (36,048 ) $ (16,100 ) (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $25 $- $1,651,343 $369,598 $- $2,020,966 Financial services 9,572 32,842 42,414 Intercompany charges 100,878 (100,878 ) - Total revenues 25 100,878 1,660,915 402,440 (100,878 ) 2,063,380 Expenses: Homebuilding 3,286 131,730 1,549,659 336,651 2,021,326 Financial services 20 6,832 21,764 28,616 Intercompany charges 100,878 (100,878 ) - Total expenses 3,306 131,730 1,657,369 358,415 (100,878 ) 2,049,942 Loss on extinguishment of debt (1,155 ) (1,155 ) Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 94 7,803 7,897 Income (loss) before income taxes (3,281 ) (32,007 ) 3,640 51,828 - 20,180 State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (298,775 ) (908 ) 12,719 (286,964 ) Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries 11,650 (14,177 ) 51,828 (49,301 ) - Net income (loss) $307,144 $(45,276 ) $42,749 $51,828 $(49,301 ) $307,144 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues: Homebuilding $3 $(235 ) $1,497,016 $311,730 $(4,988 ) $1,803,526 Financial services 9,386 38,341 47,727 Intercompany charges 81,816 (104,212 ) (2,325 ) 24,721 - Total revenues 3 81,581 1,402,190 347,746 19,733 1,851,253 Expenses: Homebuilding 8,608 123,511 1,373,360 295,390 10,670 1,811,539 Financial services 17 6,721 22,321 29,059 Total expenses 8,625 123,511 1,380,081 317,711 10,670 1,840,598 (Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt (770,769 ) 770,009 (760 ) Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 2,327 9,713 12,040 Income (loss) before income taxes (8,622 ) (812,699 ) 794,445 39,748 9,063 21,935 State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (21,541 ) 12,181 (9,360 ) Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries 18,376 (11,514 ) 39,748 (46,610 ) - Net income (loss) $31,295 $(824,213 ) $822,012 $39,748 $(37,547 ) $31,295
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	(In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net (loss) income $(16,100 ) $11,989 $(20,929 ) $44,988 $(36,048 ) $(16,100 ) Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 122,264 110,820 (456,704 ) (116,863 ) 36,048 (304,435 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 106,164 122,809 (477,633 ) (71,875 ) - (320,535 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property and assets 1,556 17 1,573 Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions (2,054 ) (2,054 ) Decrease in restricted cash related to mortgage company 1,555 1,555 Decrease in restricted cash related to letters of credit 2,993 2,993 Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures 16 (114 ) (18,609 ) (18,707 ) Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures 315 646 16,151 17,112 Intercompany investing activities (313,174 ) 313,174 - Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - (309,850 ) 34 (886 ) 313,174 2,472 Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from mortgages and notes 27,881 11,502 39,383 Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs 17,117 5,867 22,984 Net payments from land bank financing programs (6,198 ) (1,147 ) (7,345 ) Proceeds from senior notes 250,000 250,000 Payments related to senior notes (60,815 ) (60,815 ) Borrowings from revolving credit facility 47,000 47,000 Net proceeds related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit 31,956 31,956 Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances (5,096 ) (2,732 ) (1,187 ) (9,015 ) Principal payments on amortizing and debt repurchases (4,238 ) (4,238 ) Intercompany financing activities (106,164 ) 441,457 (22,119 ) (313,174 ) - Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (106,164 ) 226,851 477,525 24,872 (313,174 ) 309,910 Net (decrease) increase in cash - 39,810 (74 ) (47,889 ) - (8,153 ) Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period - 159,508 (4,726 ) 107,116 - 261,898 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $199,318 $(4,800 ) $59,227 $- $253,745 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $307,144 $(45,276 ) $42,749 $51,828 $(49,301 ) $307,144 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (277,932 ) 14,334 (303,507 ) 20,075 49,301 (497,729 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 29,212 (30,942 ) (260,758 ) 71,903 - (190,585 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property and assets 467 48 515 Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions (3,395 ) (28 ) (3,423 ) (Increase) in restricted cash related to mortgage company (655 ) (655 ) Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures (95 ) (831 ) (20,773 ) (21,699 ) Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures 203 3,787 7,117 11,107 Intercompany investing activities (167,370 ) 167,370 - Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities - (167,262 ) 28 (14,291 ) 167,370 (14,155 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from mortgages and notes 39,345 1,425 40,770 Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs 17,232 1,982 19,214 Net payments from land bank financing programs (8,297 ) (9,009 ) (17,306 ) Net proceeds from senior notes 121,447 121,447 Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit (14,744 ) (14,744 ) Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances (7,205 ) (4,051 ) (691 ) (11,947 ) Intercompany financing activities (29,212 ) 218,254 (21,672 ) (167,370 ) - Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (29,212 ) 114,242 262,483 (42,709 ) (167,370 ) 137,434 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents - (83,962 ) 1,753 14,903 - (67,306 ) Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period 243,470 (6,479 ) 92,213 329,204 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $159,508 $(4,726 ) $107,116 $- $261,898 (In thousands) Parent Subsidiary Issuer Guarantor Subsidiaries Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $31,295 $(824,213 ) $822,012 $39,748 $(37,547 ) $31,295 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 29,653 797,892 (875,287 ) (11,832 ) 37,547 (22,027 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 60,948 (26,321 ) (53,275 ) 27,916 - 9,268 Net cash provided by investing activities 235 11,819 18,231 - 30,285 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6,139 ) 52,914 (30,356 ) - 16,419 Intercompany financing activities - net (60,948 ) 78,598 (15,920 ) (1,730 ) - - Net increase (decrease) in cash - 46,373 (4,462 ) 14,061 - 55,972 Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period - 197,097 (2,017 ) 78,152 - 273,232 Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period $- $243,470 $(6,479 ) $92,213 $- $329,204

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarize47

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarized Consolidated Quarterly Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended (In t housands , e xcept p er s hare d ata) October 31, 201 5 July 31, 201 5 April 30, 201 5 January 31, 201 5 Revenues $693,204 $540,613 $468,949 $445,714 Expenses 653,080 549,089 495,585 464,616 Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs 4,426 1,077 4,311 2,230 Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures 1,699 (448 ) 1,466 1,452 Income (loss) before income taxes 37,397 (10,001 ) (29,481 ) (19,680 ) State and federal income tax provision (benefit) 11,878 (2,317 ) (9,922 ) (5,304 ) Net income (loss) $25,519 $(7,684 ) $(19,559 ) $(14,376 ) Per share data: Basic: Income (loss) per common share $0.17 $(0.05 ) $(0.13 ) $(0.10 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 147,057 147,010 146,946 146,929 Assuming dilution: Income (loss) per common share $0.16 $(0.05 ) $(0.13 ) $(0.10 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 160,299 147,010 146,946 146,929 Three Months Ended (In t housands , e xcept p er s hare d ata) October 31, 201 4 July 31, 201 4 April 30, 201 4 January 31, 201 4 Revenues $698,394 $551,009 $449,929 $364,048 Expenses 663,149 535,107 456,617 389,845 Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs 3,297 741 522 664 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - (1,155 ) - Income from unconsolidated joint ventures 4,048 211 1,067 2,571 Income (loss) before income taxes 35,996 15,372 (7,298 ) (23,890 ) State and federal income tax (benefit) provision (286,468 ) (1,733 ) 604 633 Net income (loss) $322,464 $17,105 $(7,902 ) $(24,523 ) Per share data: Basic: Income (loss) per common share $2.15 $0.11 $(0.05 ) $(0.17 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 146,413 146,365 146,325 145,982 Assuming dilution: Income (loss) per common share $1.95 $0.11 $(0.05 ) $(0.17 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 161,720 162,278 146,325 145,982

Supplemental Disclosure of No48

Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing Activities (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)shares
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing Activities (Details) [Line Items]
Real Estate Owned, Transfer from Real Estate Owned	$ 9.5
Note Foreclosure Nonrecourse Liabilities Reduction	$ 9.5
Senior Exchangeable Notes Exchanged for Class A Common Stock (in Shares) | shares	18,305
Noncash Or Part Noncash Receivable Transferred from Joint Venture Partners to Investment in Joint Venture	$ 0.6
Common Class A [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing Activities (Details) [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities (in Shares) | shares	3,396,102

Note 2 - Business (Details)

Note 2 - Business (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 2 - Business (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Communities	219
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 2 - Business (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	6
Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Segment Concentration Risk [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 2 - Business (Details) [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	97.00%	98.00%	97.00%

Note 3 - Summary of Significa50

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)shares	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2006USD ($)
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Planned Construction Cycle	12 months
Cash Equivalents Policy Number of Days	90 days
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 15,800,000	$ 15,400,000		$ 15,800,000
Number of Mothballed Communities Reactivated	14
Number of Communities Mothballed	31	45		31
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities	$ 103,000,000	$ 103,300,000		$ 103,000,000
Inventory, Real Estate, Mothballed Communities, Accumulated Impairment Charges	334,500,000	412,400,000		334,500,000
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options	1,200,000	3,500,000		1,200,000
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	1,200,000	3,400,000		1,200,000
Inventory, Land Held-for-sale	1,300,000	600,000		1,300,000
General Liability Insurance, Deductible	20,000,000	20,000,000		20,000,000
Bodily Injury Insurance, Deductible	250,000	250,000		250,000
Bodily Injury Insurance, Limit	5,000,000	5,000,000		5,000,000
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims	21,000,000	21,000,000		21,000,000	$ 21,000,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	0	$ 0
Advertising Expense	21,000,000	21,500,000	$ 17,200,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	7,600,000	13,800,000		7,600,000
Provision for Doubtful Accounts	700,000	400,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Recoveries	900,000	$ 1,300,000
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts, Shares Included in Basic Earnings Per Share (in Shares) | shares		6.1
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Inventory Real Estate Specific Performance Options	1,242,000	$ 3,479,000		1,242,000
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	105,856,000	92,381,000		105,856,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	120,983,000	105,374,000		120,983,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Model Sale Leaseback Financing Arrangements [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	87,900,000	64,900,000		87,900,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	95,900,000	70,400,000		95,900,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Land Banking Arrangement [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Liabilities from Inventory Real Estate Not Owned	16,800,000	24,100,000		16,800,000
Inventory Real Estate Other Options	$ 25,100,000	35,000,000		$ 25,100,000
Warranty Claims [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable		$ 6,000,000
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		7.25%
Exchangeable Note Units [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Minimum [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.30%	16.80%	18.00%	16.80%
Maximum [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Joint Venture, Voting Interest Percentage	50.00%
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	19.80%	17.30%	19.30%	19.80%

Note 3 - Summary of Significa51

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Interest Costs Incurred, Expensed, and Capitalized - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015		Oct. 31, 2014		Oct. 31, 2013
Interest Costs Incurred, Expensed, and Capitalized [Abstract]
Interest capitalized at beginning of year		$ 109,158	[1]	$ 105,093	[1]	$ 116,056
Plus interest incurred(1)	[2]	166,188		145,409		132,611
Less cost of sales interest expensed		59,613		53,966		52,230
Less other interest expensed(2)(3)	[3],[4]	91,835		87,378		91,344
Interest capitalized at end of year(4)	[1]	$ 123,898		$ 109,158		$ 105,093
[1]	Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating any portion of impairments, if any, to capitalized interest.
[2]	Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries.
[3]	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:
[4]	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. Also includes interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed.

Note 3 - Summary of Significa52

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Interest - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Other interest expensed	[1],[2]	$ 91,835	$ 87,378	$ 91,344
Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries		2,050	1,969	2,975
Increase in accrued interest		(8,166)	(3,961)	(8,062)
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest		$ 85,719	$ 85,386	$ 86,257
[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:
[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. Also includes interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed.

Note 4 - Leases (Details)

Note 4 - Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 4 - Leases (Details) [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense (in Dollars)	$ 11.6	$ 11.6	$ 10.8
Minimum [Member]
Note 4 - Leases (Details) [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Model Homes [Member]
Note 4 - Leases (Details) [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Note 4 - Leases (Details) [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Model Homes [Member]
Note 4 - Leases (Details) [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	3 years

Note 4 - Leases (Details) - Fut

Note 4 - Leases (Details) - Future Lease Payments $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)
Future Lease Payments [Abstract]
2,016	$ 10,349
2,017	6,147
2,018	2,567
2,019	1,562
2,020	1,136
Thereafter	180
Total	$ 21,941

Note 5 - Property, Plant and 55

Note 5 - Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - Property, Plant, and Equipment - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 117,563	$ 120,343
Less accumulated depreciation	72,029	73,599
Total	45,534	46,744
Land and Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	2,398	2,398
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	67,039	66,871
Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,145	9,660
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	5,878	6,187
Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 35,103	$ 35,227

Note 6 - Restricted Cash and 56

Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 26,500	$ 29,300
Mortgage Warehouse Lines of Credit [Member]
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,000	4,100
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	7,299	13,086
Homebuilding [Member] | Customer Deposits [Member]
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,700	7,500
Financial Services [Member]
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	19,223	16,236
Financial Services [Member] | Customer Deposits [Member]
Note 6 - Restricted Cash and Deposits (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 17,200	$ 12,100

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held 57

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held for Sale (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)
Receivables [Abstract]
Loans Pledged as Collateral (in Dollars)	$ 114	$ 78.6
Number of Loans Reserved For	131	130
Number of Loan Repurchase Requests in Period	2	78

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held 58

Note 7 - Mortgage Loans Held for Sale (Details) - Loan Origination Reserves - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Loan Origination Reserves [Abstract]
Loan origination reserves, beginning of period		$ 7,352	$ 11,036
Provisions for losses during the period		221	3,814
Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates		$ 452	(2,574)
Payments/settlements (1)	[1]		(4,924)
Loan origination reserves, end of period		$ 8,025	$ 7,352
[1]	Includes the global settlement of all loans sold to one of our previously significant mortgage purchasers, which settlements covers all of our potential liabilityfor such loans.

Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes 59

Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months		$ 263,994
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two		126,293
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		76,614
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		150,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five		827,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five		415,000
Long-term Line of Credit		47,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 2,600	$ 5,500
Citi Bank [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term	5 years
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 75,000
Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate Number of Business Days Prior to First Day of Interest Period Spread Determined		2 days
Long-term Line of Credit		$ 47,000	0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		25,900	26,500
JP Morgan Chase Bank [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		50,000
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings		$ 30,500	25,500
JP Morgan Chase Bank [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Variable Rate Basis Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate LIBOR		19.00%
Customer's Bank [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 37,500
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings		29,700	20,400
Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Secured Debt		$ 15,500	$ 16,600
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		8.80%	7.00%
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months		$ 1,200
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two		1,300
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		1,400
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		1,500
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five		1,700
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five		8,400
Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Secured Debt		143,863	$ 103,908
Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount		$ 388,100	$ 220,100
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		5.10%	5.00%
The 7.25% 2020 Notes and 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount		$ 784,700
Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities		197,100
The 7.25% 2020 Notes and 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Restricted Cash [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities		2,600	$ 5,600
Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		50,000
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings		$ 30,100	19,700
Debt Instrument Variable Rate Basis Effective Rate		0.58%
Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 35,000
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings		$ 18,600	$ 11,300
Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.50%
Debt Instrument Variable Rate Basis Floor Rate		0.25%
Minimum [Member] | JP Morgan Chase Bank [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.50%
Minimum [Member] | Customer's Bank [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.75%
Minimum [Member] | Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.25%
Maximum [Member] | JP Morgan Chase Bank [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.63%
Maximum [Member] | Customer's Bank [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		5.25%
Maximum [Member] | Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Note 8 - Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.50%

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Seni60

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details)

Oct. 15, 2015USD ($)

Nov. 05, 2014USD ($)

Jan. 10, 2014USD ($)

Sep. 16, 2013USD ($)

Jun. 01, 2013USD ($)

Nov. 01, 2011USD ($)

Feb. 14, 2011USD ($)

Jun. 12, 2006USD ($)

Feb. 27, 2006USD ($)

Aug. 08, 2005USD ($)

Apr. 30, 2014USD ($)

Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)

Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)shares

Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)

Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)shares

Feb. 09, 2014USD ($)

Oct. 02, 2012USD ($)$ / shares$ / itemshares

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Covenant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Minimum

2

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

100.00%

Repayments of Senior Debt (in Dollars)

$ 60,815,000

$ 22,593,000

$ 40,424,000

Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures (in Dollars)

$ 63,883,000

$ 61,209,000

63,883,000

Senior Exchangeable Notes Exchanged for Class A Common Stock (in Shares) | shares

18,305

Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt (in Dollars)

$ (1,155,000)

$ (1,155,000)

$ (760,000)

Series A Preferred Stock [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage

7.625%

Domain Real Estate Partners [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Number of New Land Banking Relationships

1

Land Banking Transaction, Amount (in Dollars)

$ 125,000,000

GSO Capital Partners [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Land Banking Transaction, Amount (in Dollars)

$ 175,000,000

First Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

105.438%

First Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

103.625%

First Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

101.813%

First Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

Second Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

106.844%

Second Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

104.563%

Second Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

102.281%

Second Lien Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

The 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

5.00%

5.00%

5.00%

5.00%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 141,800,000

The 2.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

2.00%

2.00%

2.00%

2.00%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 53,200,000

The 6.25% 2016 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

6.25%

6.25%

6.25%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 41,600,000

$ 300,000,000

$ 172,700,000

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage

6.46%

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

100.00%

The 7.5% 2016 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

7.50%

7.50%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 300,000,000

$ 86,500,000

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

The 8.625% 2017 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

8.625%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 250,000,000

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

The 11.875% 2015 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

11.875%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 155,000,000

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

Repayments of Senior Debt (in Dollars)

$ 60,800,000

Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 195,000,000

Additional and "Make-Whole Amount" [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

1.00%

The 2.0% 2021 Notes Member and 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents Collateral [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount (in Dollars)

50,900,000

The 2.0% 2021 Notes Member and 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Real Estate [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount (in Dollars)

140,100,000

The 2.0% 2021 Notes Member and 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Secured Group [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures (in Dollars)

$ 57,300,000

The 7.25% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

7.25%

7.25%

7.25%

7.25%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 577,000,000

The 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

9.125%

9.125%

9.125%

9.125%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 220,000,000

The 7.25% 2020 Notes and 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount (in Dollars)

$ 784,700,000

Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities (in Dollars)

197,100,000

Extinguishment of Debt, Amount (in Dollars)

$ 3,300,000

The 7.25% 2020 Notes and 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Restricted Cash [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities (in Dollars)

$ 5,600,000

$ 2,600,000

$ 5,600,000

The 6.00% Exchangeable Note Units [Member] | Exchangeable Note Units [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

6.00%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 100,000,000

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage

5.17%

Note Units Number

100,000

Note Units Stated Amount (in Dollars per Item) | $ / item

1,000

Note Units Initial Principal Amount Exchangeable Note (in Dollars per Item) | $ / item

768.51

Note Units Principal Amount At Maturity (in Dollars per Item) | $ / item

1,000

Note Units Initial Principal Amount Senior Amortizing Note (in Dollars per Item) | $ / item

231.49

Shares Issued Upon Conversion of Convertible Debt (in Shares) | shares

185.5288

Share Price for Exchangeable Note Conversion (in Dollars per Share) | $ / shares

5.39

Senior Exchangeable Notes Exchanged for Class A Common Stock (in Shares) | shares

18,305

Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued (in Shares) | shares

3,400,000

The 11.0% 2017 Amortizing Note [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

11.00%

11.00%

11.00%

11.00%

Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Interest (in Dollars)

$ 39.83

$ 30

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

7.00%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 150,000,000

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt (in Dollars)

$ 147,800,000

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] | Redemption With Net Cash Proceeds From Certain Equity Offerings [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

107.00%

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

103.50%

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

101.75%

The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

The 6.25% 2015 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

6.25%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 21,400,000

Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt (in Dollars)

$ 1,200,000

8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

8.00%

8.00%

Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)

$ 250,000,000

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage

100.00%

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt (in Dollars)

$ 245,700,000

Maximum [Member] | The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage of Principal Amount Redeemed

35.00%

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Seni61

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) - Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	$ 981,346	$ 979,935
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	780,319	590,472
The 7.25% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	577,000	577,000
The 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	220,000	220,000
The 2.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	53,139	53,129
The 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	131,207	129,806
The 11.875% 2015 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes		60,414
The 6.25% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	172,744	172,483
The 7.5% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	86,532	86,532
The 8.625% 2017 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	121,043	121,043
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	150,000	150,000
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	250,000
The 11.0% 2017 Amortizing Note [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	12,811	17,049
Senior Exchangeable Notes Due 2017 [Member] | Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Secured Notes:
Senior Notes	$ 73,771	$ 70,101

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Seni62

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) - Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes (Parentheticals)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 02, 2012	Nov. 01, 2011
The 7.25% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Oct. 15, 2020	Oct. 15, 2020
The 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	9.125%	9.125%	9.125%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 15, 2020	Nov. 15, 2020
The 2.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	2.00%	2.00%		2.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 1, 2021	Nov. 1, 2021
The 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	5.00%	5.00%		5.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 1, 2021	Nov. 1, 2021
The 11.875% 2015 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	11.875%	11.875%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Oct. 15, 2015	Oct. 15, 2015
The 6.25% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	6.25%	6.25%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 15, 2016	Jan. 15, 2016
The 7.5% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	7.50%	7.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	May 15, 2016	May 15, 2016
The 8.625% 2017 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	8.625%	8.625%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 15, 2017	Jan. 15, 2017
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	7.00%	7.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 15, 2019	Jan. 15, 2019
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	8.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 1, 2019
The 11.0% 2017 Amortizing Note [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Stated Interest Rate	11.00%	11.00%	11.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Dec. 1, 2017	Dec. 1, 2017
Senior Exchangeable Notes Due 2017 [Member] | Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Dec. 1, 2017	Dec. 1, 2017

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Seni63

Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Amortizing, and Senior Exchangeable Notes (Details) - Future Maturities of Borrowings $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)
Future Maturities of Borrowings [Abstract]
2,016	$ 263,994
2,017	126,293
2,018	76,614
2,019	150,000
2,020	827,000
Thereafter	415,000
Total	$ 1,858,901

Note 10 - Operating and Repor64

Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)
Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	$ 290,279	$ 284,543
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	6
Corporate and Other [Member]
Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	$ 290,300	$ 284,500

Note 10 - Operating and Repor65

Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) - Financial Information Relating to Segment Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Total revenues		$ 693,204	$ 540,613	$ 468,949	$ 445,714	$ 698,394	$ 551,009	$ 449,929	$ 364,048	$ 2,148,480	$ 2,063,380	$ 1,851,253
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes		37,397	(10,001)	(29,481)	(19,680)	35,996	15,372	(7,298)	(23,890)	(21,765)	20,180	21,935
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										150,382	141,225	144,073
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										3,388	3,417	4,712
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										2,054	3,423	1,558
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures		$ 1,699	$ (448)	$ 1,466	$ 1,452	$ 4,048	$ 211	$ 1,067	$ 2,571	4,169	7,897	12,040
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										2,091,930	2,021,128	1,803,657
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										71,663	139,336	135,489
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										86,903	76,825	74,829
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										733	845	1,398
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										1,183	1,262	772
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										189,497	275,830	282,855
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										(7,742)	(7,517)	1,519
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										14,150	20,940	26,163
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										136	250	245
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment											44	388
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures										856	(1,302)	3,738
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										399,500	332,719	289,303
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										21,431	23,897	24,388
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										16,268	9,542	10,037
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										28	45	283
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										58	23	35
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures										4,502	6,459	5,631
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										311,449	226,174	163,485
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										14,012	17,879	12,270
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										10,405	5,354	3,737
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										361	355	528
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										637	927	279
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures										(105)	17	1,045
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										207,662	204,671	147,570
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										(6,330)	9,247	6,455
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										9,552	7,827	5,861
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										40	31	31
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										227	59	7
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures										1,213	2,119	1,287
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										823,853	751,426	697,358
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										67,437	74,527	76,459
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										26,147	20,543	16,071
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										89	131	163
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										173	39	44
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										159,969	230,308	223,086
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										(17,145)	21,303	14,398
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										10,381	12,619	12,960
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										79	33	148
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										88	170	19
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated joint ventures:
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures										(2,297)	604	339
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										56,665	42,414	47,727
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										24,693	13,798	18,668
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net	[1]									(1,066)	(119)	499
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										47	68	285
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment											28	6
Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										(115)	(162)	(131)
(Loss) income before income taxes:
(Loss) income before income taxes										(118,121)	(132,954)	(132,222)
Homebuilding interest expense:
Total interest expense, net										64,545	64,519	68,745
Depreciation:
Total depreciation										2,608	2,504	3,029
Net additions to operating properties and equipment:
Total net additions to operating properties and equipment										$ 871	$ 2,133	$ 780
[1]	Financial services interest expenses are included in the Financial services lines on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the respective revenues and expenses sections.

Note 10 - Operating and Repor66

Note 10 - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) - Financial Information Relating to Segment Financial Position - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Assets:
Total assets		$ 2,602,298	$ 2,289,930
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		61,209	63,883
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		2,152,038	1,885,044
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		61,209	63,883
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		321,983	315,573
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		12,340	6,987
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		342,159	313,494
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		22,417	36,285
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		197,899	169,967
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		(20)	806
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		223,206	148,096
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		10,224	4,787
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		465,740	410,756
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		259,943	143,245
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		16,122	14,562
Financial Services [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		159,981	120,343
Corporate and Other [Member]
Assets:
Total assets	[1]	631,387	668,456
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		126	456
Excluding Corporate And Unallocated [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Total assets		1,810,930	1,501,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		$ 61,083	$ 63,427
[1]	Includes $290.3 million and $284.5 million of income taxes receivable - including deferred tax assets in fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 11,878	$ (2,317)	$ (9,922)	$ (5,304)	$ (286,468)	$ (1,733)	$ 604	$ 633	$ (5,665)	$ (286,964)	$ (9,360)
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	635,305				642,003				635,305	642,003
Operating Loss Carryforwards											1,500,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	300				400				300	400
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense									(91)	(30)	100
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)									(200)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	1,100				$ 1,100				1,100	1,100
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)									3,700	57,800	0
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,500,000								1,500,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)									12,300	24,500	23,100
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									4,293	$ (12,452)	$ 518
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 2,200,000								$ 2,200,000
Earliest Tax Year [Member]
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]
Open Tax Year									2,011
Latest Tax Year [Member]
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]
Open Tax Year									2,014

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Detai68

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Income Taxes Payable (Receivable) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
State income taxes:
Deferred	$ 292,430	$ 287,740
Total	(290,279)	(284,543)
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
State income taxes:
Current	2,151	3,197
Deferred	(11,148)	(14,918)
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
State income taxes:
Deferred	$ (281,282)	$ (272,822)

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Detai69

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Provision for Income Taxes - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Current income tax (benefit) expense:
Federal (1)	[1]									$ (1,497)	$ (1,690)	$ (9,878)
State (2)	[2]									523	2,466	518
Total current income tax (benefit) expense:										(974)	776	(9,360)
Federal										(8,461)	(272,822)
State										3,770	(14,918)
Total deferred income tax (benefit):										(4,691)	(287,740)
Total		$ 11,878	$ (2,317)	$ (9,922)	$ (5,304)	$ (286,468)	$ (1,733)	$ 604	$ 633	$ (5,665)	$ (286,964)	$ (9,360)
[1]	The current federal income tax (benefit) expense is net of the use of federal net operating losses totaling $3.7 million, $57.8 million and $0.0 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
[2]	The current state income tax (benefit) expense is net of the use of state net operating losses totaling $12.3 million, $24.5 million and $23.1 million for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Detai70

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
Depreciation	$ 2,176	$ 2,407
Inventory impairment loss	210,716	219,487
Uniform capitalization of overhead	11,203	9,005
Warranty and legal reserves	13,319	14,342
Deferred income	682	547
Acquisition intangibles	13,374	18,014
Other	17,752	19,516
Total deferred tax assets	1,019,187	1,052,072
Deferred tax liabilities:
Acquisition intangibles		395
Debt repurchase income	91,452	121,934
Total deferred tax liabilities	91,452	122,329
Valuation allowance	(635,305)	(642,003)
Net deferred income taxes	292,430	287,740
Joint venture loss	2,891	5,633
Federal net operating losses	524,125	524,879
State net operating losses	169,046	176,225
Restricted Stock [Member]
Deferred tax assets:
Share-based compensation	8,191	7,121
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Deferred tax assets:
Share-based compensation	7,474	8,481
Rent on Abandoned Space [Member]
Deferred tax assets:
Other	1,888	2,830
Provision for Losses [Member]
Deferred tax assets:
Other	$ 36,350	$ 43,585

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Detai71

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Effective Tax Rate	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Effective Tax Rate [Abstract]
Computed “expected” tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	(15.60%)	(3.50%)	14.00%
Permanent differences, net	(0.40%)	0.80%	11.30%
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance impact		(1393.30%)	(66.20%)
Tax contingencies	3.20%	(0.60%)	(36.80%)
Adjustments to prior years’ tax accruals	3.80%	(60.40%)
Effective tax rate	26.00%	(1422.00%)	(42.70%)

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Detai72

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Unrecognized Tax Benefits - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefit—November 1,	$ 1.7	$ 1.8
Gross increases—tax positions in current period	0.2	0.2
Decrease related to tax positions taken during a prior period	0	0
Lapse of statute of limitations	(0.8)	(0.3)
Unrecognized tax benefit—October 31,	$ 1.1	$ 1.7

Note 12 - Reduction of Invent73

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended				24 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Communities Evaluated for Impairment	523	495			523
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	26	12			26
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment (in Dollars)	$ 108,100	$ 28,200			$ 108,100
Number of Communities Tested for Impairment for Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount by Less Than 20%	12	4			12
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment for Which Undiscounted Future Cash Flow Only Exceeded Carrying Amount by Less Than 20% (in Dollars)	$ 54,900	$ 23,100			$ 54,900
Percentage Undiscounted Cash Flow Exceeds Carrying Amount	20.00%	20.00%
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	$ 7,300	$ 1,200	$ 2,400
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	4,700	4,000	2,600
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	7,300	1,200	2,400	[1]
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	4,700	4,000	2,600
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	900	0	2	[1]
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	200	200	100
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate (in Dollars)	2,500	0	17	[1]
Land Option Write-offs (in Dollars)	$ 1,300	$ 700	$ 200
Fourth Quarter [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Communities Performed Detailed Impairment Calculations	14	4			14
Carrying Value of Communities Tested for Impairment (in Dollars)	$ 37,700	$ 7,100			$ 37,700
Minimum [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.30%	16.80%	18.00%		16.80%
Maximum [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Real Estate Inventory [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	19.80%	17.30%	19.30%		19.80%
[1]	During the year ended October 31, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17thousand.

Note 12 - Reduction of Invent74

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 7,300	$ 1,200	$ 2,400
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		12	5	6
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 7,300	$ 1,200	$ 2,400	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 29,400	$ 4,400	$ 8,200
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		2	2	4
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 800	$ 300	$ 2,400	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 900	$ 600	$ 7,700
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		1	0	1
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 900	$ 0	$ 2	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 2,500	$ 0	$ 100
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		4	3	0
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 1,300	$ 900	$ 0	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 8,400	$ 3,800	$ 0
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		4	0	1
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 2,500	$ 0	$ 17	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 10,100	$ 0	$ 400
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		0	0	0
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Inventory Impairments by Homebuilding Segment [Line Items]
Number of communities		1	0	0
Dollar amount of impairment		$ 1,800	$ 0	$ 0	[1]
Pre-impairment value	[2]	$ 7,500	$ 0	$ 0
[1]	During the year ended October 31, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17thousand.
[2]	Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the applicable period's impairments.

Note 12 - Reduction of Invent75

Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	$ 4.7	$ 4	$ 2.6
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	4.7	4	2.6
Homebuilding [Member] | Northeast [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	0.9	0.9	0.7
Homebuilding [Member] | Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	0.2	0.2	0.1
Homebuilding [Member] | Midwest [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	0.6	1	0.2
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	1.3	0.7	0.2
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	1.4	$ 1.2	$ 1.4
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Note 12 - Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value (Details) - Write-offs and Lots Walked Away From [Line Items]
Amount of write-offs	$ 0.3

Note 13 - Per Share Calculati76

Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) - shares shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) [Line Items]
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts, Shares Included in Basic Earnings Per Share		6.1
Tangible Equity Units, Rate		7.25%
Exchangeable Note Unit Rate Stated Percentage	6.00%	6.00%
Non-Vested Stock and Outstanding Options [Member]
Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0.2
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	15.2
Out of the Money Stock Options [Member]
Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3	2	2.2

Note 13 - Per Share Calculati77

Note 13 - Per Share Calculations (Details) - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Numerator:
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Hovnanian	$ 25,519	$ (7,684)	$ (19,559)	$ (14,376)	$ 322,464	$ 17,105	$ (7,902)	$ (24,523)	$ (16,100)	$ 307,144	$ 31,295
Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares										(7,107)	(58)
Numerator for basic earnings per share									(16,100)	300,037	31,237
Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares										7,107	58
Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares										(7,127)	(59)
Plus: interest on senior exchangeable notes										3,487	3,720
Numerator for diluted earnings per share									$ (16,100)	$ 303,504	$ 34,956
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share (in Shares)	147,057	147,010	146,946	146,929	146,413	146,365	146,325	145,982	146,899	146,271	145,087
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based payments (in Shares)										1,013	1,396
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding (in Shares)	160,299	147,010	146,946	146,929	161,720	162,278	146,325	145,982	146,899	162,441	162,329
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ 2.15	$ 0.11	$ (0.05)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.11)	$ 2.05	$ 0.22
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ 1.95	$ 0.11	$ (0.05)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.87	$ 0.22
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Senior exchangeable notes (in Shares)										15,157	15,846

Note 14 - Capital Stock (Detail

Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details)	Jul. 12, 2005$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)	Mar. 12, 2013$ / sharesshares	Mar. 11, 2013$ / sharesshares	Dec. 05, 2008	Aug. 15, 2008	Aug. 04, 2008	Jul. 03, 2001shares
Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details) [Line Items]
Common Stock Dividends, Percent of Increase from Class A to Class B		110.00%
Conversion of Stock from Class B to Class A, Conversion Ratio		1
Shareholder Ownership, Percentage of Increase									50.00%
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued (in Shares)		5,600	5,600
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer (in Dollars) | $		$ 6,200,000	$ 4,700,000	$ 600,000
Common Class A [Member]
Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details) [Line Items]
Common Stock Voting Rights Votes Per Share Number		1
Common Stock, Shares Authorized (in Shares)		400,000,000	400,000,000		400,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.01	$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Shareholder Ownership Percentage								4.90%
Number of Rights								1
Shareholder, Percent of Stock Acquired								4.90%
Shareholders, Pre-existing Ownership Percentage							5.00%
Shareholders, Current Ownership Percentage							5.00%
Shareholders Ownership Percentage on Transfers							5.00%
Shareholders, Ownership Percentage Threshold							5.00%
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased (in Shares)										4,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares (in Shares)		0
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased (in Shares)		500,000
Common Class B [Member]
Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details) [Line Items]
Common Stock Voting Rights Votes Per Share Number		10
Common Stock, Shares Authorized (in Shares)		60,000,000	60,000,000		60,000,000	30,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.01	$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Class A [Member]
Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details) [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued (in Shares)	5,600
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage	7.625%
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 25,000
Payments of Dividends (in Dollars) | $		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Minimum [Member]
Note 14 - Capital Stock (Details) [Line Items]
Shareholder Ownership Percentage									5.00%

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details)

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2014USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2013USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Oct. 31, 2012shares
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense (in Dollars) | $	$ 8,800	$ 10,300	$ 6,800
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Net of Tax (in Dollars) | $	$ 6,500	10,300	6,800
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Number of Directors	5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value (in Dollars) | $	$ 15	$ 105	$ 167
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number (in Shares)	6,393,876	6,720,251	6,591,054	6,019,070
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.66
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares	32.33
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares	1.47	$ 3.06	$ 5.14
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.78	$ 2.09	$ 2.72
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percent Vested	25.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period (in Shares)	(50,737)
Share-based Compensation (in Dollars) | $	$ 8,816	$ 10,279	$ 6,842
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number (in Shares)	3,600,769	2,459,138
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)	1,818,558
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)	3,900,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized (in Dollars) | $	$ 4,900
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	2 years
Nonemployee Director [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Number of Installments	3
Equity Option [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	2.03%	2.60%	2.14%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	0.58%	0.70%	0.96%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term	7 years 80 days	7 years 153 days	7 years 109 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Estimated Forfeiture Rate	8.84%	14.59%	18.17%
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense (in Dollars) | $	$ 2,200	$ 3,900	$ 4,000
Options Outstanding and Exercisable [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number (in Shares)	500,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value (in Dollars) | $	$ 66
Restricted Stock [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Directors	5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Participants Years of Service	15 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in Shares)	1,018,558	168,161	104,944
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period (in Shares)	5,811	12,000	500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested, Number (in Shares)	538,892	534,143	534,143
Restricted Stock [Member] | Nonemployee Director [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in Shares)	155,433	85,035	63,694
Restricted Stock [Member] | Age Requirement Without Service [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Participants Age	60 years
Restricted Stock [Member] | Age Requirement With Service [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Participants Age	58 years
Restricted Stock [Member] | Prior Periods [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in Shares)	97,854	67,804	46,393
Deferred Right Award [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Participants Years of Service	20 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in Shares)	0	0	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	1 year
Deferred Right Award [Member] | Prior Periods [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in Shares)			68,390
Awards Other Than Options [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation (in Dollars) | $	$ 6,500	$ 6,200	$ 2,700
Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Number of Installments	4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number (in Shares)	1,600,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)	800,000	800,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	50.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Compensation Award Fair Value, Measurement Period	60 days
Performance Based MSUs [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Number of Installments	4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	50.00%
The 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Pre-tax Profit from Incentive Plan (in Dollars) | $	$ 50,000
Refinancing or Reduction of Existing Homebuilding Debt (in Dollars) | $	82,000
Aggregate Principal Amount of Future Debt Reductions (in Dollars) | $	259,000
Maximum Performance Level Amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 325,000
Target Performance Level, Percentage Achieved	90.00%
The 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 400,000
Before June 8, 2007 [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Number of Installments	4
After June 8, 2007 [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Number of Installments	4
Two Year [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	0.74%	0.45%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	38.28%	47.52%
Two and a Half Year [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	0.95%	0.71%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	42.01%	58.07%
Three Year [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.12%	0.93%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	45.73%	63.79%
Four Year [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.44%	1.32%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	59.08%	61.12%
Five Year [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.75%	1.70%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	57.77%	64.67%
Minimum [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	0.00%
Maximum [Member] | Market Stock Units [Member]
Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	175.00%

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Detail80

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) - Stock Option Activity - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Stock Option Activity [Abstract]
Options outstanding at beginning of period	6,720,251	6,591,054	6,019,070
Options outstanding at beginning of period (in Dollars per share)	$ 5.23	$ 5.74	$ 5.97
Granted	173,750	376,822	887,500
Granted (in Dollars per share)	$ 2.47	$ 4.41	$ 6.28
Exercised	18,125	42,375	44,812
Exercised (in Dollars per share)	$ 2.48	$ 2.74	$ 2.67
Forfeited	203,436	56,375	76,500
Forfeited (in Dollars per share)	$ 3.78	$ 2.66	$ 3.06
Expired	278,564	148,875	194,204
Expired (in Dollars per share)	$ 15.04	$ 27.42	$ 16.92
Options outstanding at end of period	6,393,876	6,720,251	6,591,054
Options outstanding at end of period (in Dollars per share)	$ 4.78	$ 5.23	$ 5.74
Options exercisable at end of period	4,566,290	4,100,413	3,161,952

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Detail81

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) - Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015$ / sharesshares
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	$ 1.66
Upper limit exercise price	$ 32.33
Number outstanding (in Shares) | shares	6,393,876
Weighted-average exercise price - outstanding	$ 4.78
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - oustanding	5 years 65 days
Number exercisable (in Shares) | shares	4,566,290
Weighted-average exercise price - exercisable	$ 4.96
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - exercisable	4 years 94 days
Range One [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	$ 1.66
Upper limit exercise price	$ 5
Number outstanding (in Shares) | shares	4,515,001
Weighted-average exercise price - outstanding	$ 3.03
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - oustanding	5 years 135 days
Number exercisable (in Shares) | shares	3,432,415
Weighted-average exercise price - exercisable	$ 3.04
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - exercisable	4 years 270 days
Range Two [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	$ 5.01
Upper limit exercise price	$ 10
Number outstanding (in Shares) | shares	1,611,750
Weighted-average exercise price - outstanding	$ 6.36
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - oustanding	5 years 105 days
Number exercisable (in Shares) | shares	866,750
Weighted-average exercise price - exercisable	$ 6.44
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - exercisable	3 years 102 days
Range Three [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	$ 10.01
Upper limit exercise price	20
Range Four [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	20.01
Upper limit exercise price	$ 30
Number outstanding (in Shares) | shares	187,375
Weighted-average exercise price - outstanding	$ 21.78
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - oustanding	1 year 215 days
Number exercisable (in Shares) | shares	187,375
Weighted-average exercise price - exercisable	$ 21.78
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - exercisable	1 year 215 days
Range Five [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower limit exercise price	$ 30.01
Upper limit exercise price	$ 40
Number outstanding (in Shares) | shares	79,750
Weighted-average exercise price - outstanding	$ 32.33
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - oustanding	200 days
Number exercisable (in Shares) | shares	79,750
Weighted-average exercise price - exercisable	$ 32.33
Weighted-average remaining contractual life - exercisable	200 days

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Detail82

Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details) - Nonvested Share Awards	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015$ / sharesshares
Nonvested Share Awards [Abstract]
Nonvested at beginning of period | shares	2,459,138
Nonvested at beginning of period | $ / shares	$ 5.02
Granted | shares	1,818,558
Granted | $ / shares	$ 2.66
Vested | shares	626,190
Vested | $ / shares	$ 4.59
Forfeited | shares	50,737
Forfeited | $ / shares	$ 5.53
Nonvested at end of period | shares	3,600,769
Nonvested at end of period | $ / shares	$ 4.16

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Detai

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May. 15, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2006
Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Details) [Line Items]
Cash Received from Subcontractors for Owner Controlled Insurance Program			$ 3,100	$ 2,300
General Liability Insurance, Deductible		$ 20,000	20,000	20,000
Bodily Injury Insurance, Deductible		250	250	250
Bodily Injury Insurance, Limit		5,000	5,000	5,000
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims		21,000	21,000	21,000	$ 21,000
Increase (Decrease) in Construction Defect Reserves		$ (15,200)
Payments by Insurance Companies for Claims			32,000	$ 6,400
DAndrea VHovnanian [Member]
Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Details) [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ (21,000)		$ (21,000)

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Det84

Note 16 - Warranty Costs (Details) - Warranty and General Liability Reserve - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Product Warranty Liability [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 178,008	$ 131,028
Charges incurred during the period	(49,131)	(18,241)
Changes to pre-existing reserves	(17,125)	(2,600)
Changes to reserves where corresponding amounts are recorded as receivables from insurance carriers	(10,020)	37,867
Balance, end of period	135,053	178,008
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Product Warranty Liability [Line Items]
Additions	18,013	18,839
Cost of Sales [Member]
Product Warranty Liability [Line Items]
Additions	$ 15,308	$ 11,115

Note 17 - Transactions with R85

Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards			$ 1,500,000,000
Legal Fees for Related Party			249,653
Tavit Najarian [Member]
Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000	800,000
Daughter-in-Law of Executive Officer [Member] | Compensation [Member]
Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction		$ 96,000	$ 172,000
Son of Executive Officer [Member] | Compensation [Member]
Note 17 - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 129,000

Note 18 - Commitments and Con86

Note 18 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	May. 15, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2006
Note 18 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details) [Line Items]
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims		$ 21	$ 21	$ 21
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims Amount Exceeded				$ 30
DAndrea VHovnanian [Member]
Note 18 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details) [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ (21)	$ (21)

Note 19 - Variable Interest E87

Note 19 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2015USD ($)
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Deposits Associated with Land and Lot Options of Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities	$ 82.8
Purchase Price Associated with Land and Lot Options of Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities	$ 1,400

Note 20 - Investments in Unco88

Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$ 61,209	$ 63,883
Joint Venture Financing, Percent of Assets	50.00%
Joint Venture, Average Debt to Capitalization Ratio	35.00%
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$ 61,209	63,883
Management Fees Revenue	5,200	7,500	$ 13,200
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) [Line Items]
Advances to Affiliate	$ 800	$ 1,800
Joint Venture, Average Debt to Capitalization Ratio	35.00%	22.00%

Note 20 - Investments in Unco89

Note 20 - Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures (Details) - Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Equity of:
Debt to capitalization ratio	35.00%								35.00%
Our share of net income	$ 1,699	$ (448)	$ 1,466	$ 1,452	$ 4,048	$ 211	$ 1,067	$ 2,571	$ 4,169	$ 7,897	$ 12,040
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	29,611				22,620				29,611	22,620
Inventories	326,581				224,814				326,581	224,814
Other assets	11,225				11,986				11,225	11,986
Total assets	367,417				259,420				367,417	259,420
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	30,663				28,214				30,663	28,214
Notes payable	116,328				51,156				116,328	51,156
Total liabilities	146,991				79,370				146,991	79,370
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	60,458				62,096				60,458	62,096
Others	159,968				117,954				159,968	117,954
Total equity	220,426				180,050				220,426	180,050
Total liabilities and equity	$ 367,417				$ 259,420				$ 367,417	$ 259,420
Debt to capitalization ratio	35.00%				22.00%				35.00%	22.00%
Revenues									$ 128,974	$ 181,014	322,652
Cost of sales and expenses									(132,170)	(165,546)	(286,191)
Joint venture net income									(3,196)	15,468	36,461
Our share of net income									4,219	7,997	12,212
Homebuilding Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 27,856				$ 22,415				27,856	22,415
Inventories	314,814				208,620				314,814	208,620
Other assets	11,225				11,986				11,225	11,986
Total assets	353,895				243,021				353,895	243,021
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	29,994				27,175				29,994	27,175
Notes payable	112,554				45,506				112,554	45,506
Total liabilities	142,548				72,681				142,548	72,681
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	57,336				59,106				57,336	59,106
Others	154,011				111,234				154,011	111,234
Total equity	211,347				170,340				211,347	170,340
Total liabilities and equity	$ 353,895				$ 243,021				$ 353,895	$ 243,021
Debt to capitalization ratio	35.00%				21.00%				35.00%	21.00%
Revenues									$ 122,192	$ 173,126	307,993
Cost of sales and expenses									(125,652)	(158,233)	(276,795)
Joint venture net income									(3,460)	14,893	31,198
Our share of net income									4,087	7,710	9,581
Land Development Venture [Member] | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,755				$ 205				1,755	205
Inventories	11,767				16,194				11,767	16,194
Total assets	13,522				16,399				13,522	16,399
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	669				1,039				669	1,039
Notes payable	3,774				5,650				3,774	5,650
Total liabilities	4,443				6,689				4,443	6,689
Equity of:
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.	3,122				2,990				3,122	2,990
Others	5,957				6,720				5,957	6,720
Total equity	9,079				9,710				9,079	9,710
Total liabilities and equity	$ 13,522				$ 16,399				$ 13,522	$ 16,399
Debt to capitalization ratio	29.00%				37.00%				29.00%	37.00%
Revenues									$ 6,782	$ 7,888	14,659
Cost of sales and expenses									(6,518)	(7,313)	(9,396)
Joint venture net income									264	575	5,263
Our share of net income									$ 132	$ 287	$ 2,631

Note 21 - Fair Value of Finan90

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loans Held for Sale, Mortgages, Unpaid Principal	$ 122.7	$ 91.2
Other Commitment	26.5
Impairment of Real Estate	7.3	1.2	$ 2.4
Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Loan Applications in Process	707.5
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Interest Rate Committed Loan Applications	60.1
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	689.6	464.4
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	869.4	1,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	12.8	17
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 69	79.6
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure		$ 148.2
Maximum [Member] | Loan Origination Commitments [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Days in Commitment	60 days

Note 21 - Fair Value of Finan91

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Total		$ 130,320	$ 95,338
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Fair Value		(7)	15
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Fair Value		509	(320)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Portion at Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale (1)	[1]	$ 129,818	$ 95,643
[1]	The aggregate unpaid principal balance is $122.7 million and $91.2 million at October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Note 21 - Fair Value of Finan92

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Changes in Fair Values Included in Income (Loss) - Financial Services Revenue Line Item [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Loans Held For Sale [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Changes in fair value included in net loss all reflected in financial services revenues	$ (284)	$ (1,518)	$ 1,604
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Changes in fair value included in net loss all reflected in financial services revenues	(22)	(354)	378
Forward Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Changes in fair value included in net loss all reflected in financial services revenues	$ 829	$ 835	$ (1,276)

Note 21 - Fair Value of Finan93

Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total Losses	$ (7,300)	$ (1,200)	$ (2,400)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Sold and Unsold Homes and Lots Under Development [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Pre-Impairment Amount	29,438	3,841
Total Losses	(7,357)	(900)
Fair Value	22,081	2,941
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Land and Land Options Held for Future Development or Sale [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Note 21 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Pre-Impairment Amount	0	572
Total Losses	0	(278)
Fair Value	$ 0	$ 294

Note 22 - Financial Informati94

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Nov. 05, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	1
Exchangeable Note Unit Rate Stated Percentage	6.00%		6.00%
Direct or Indirect Ownership in Guarantor Subsidiaries Percentage	100.00%
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 981,346		$ 979,935
Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	992,000
Senior Notes	981,300
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Senior Notes	780,319		590,472
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	780,300
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Senior Notes	12,811		17,049
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	12,800
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Senior Notes	73,771		$ 70,101
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 73,800
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 250,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%	8.00%

Note 22 - Financial Informati95

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Assets:
Assets	$ 2,602,298	$ 2,289,930
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	2,730,382	2,407,729
Notes payable	1,935,635	1,689,779
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(128,084)	(117,799)
Total liabilities and equity	2,602,298	2,289,930
Assets:
Income taxes receivable	290,279	284,543
Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries	61,209	63,883
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Assets	2,152,038	1,885,044
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	657,964	618,753
Assets:
Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries	61,209	63,883
Financial Services [Member]
Assets:
Assets	159,981	120,343
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	136,783	99,197
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Assets:
Assets	128,176	244,391
Liabilities and equity:
Intercompany payable	180,681	308,700
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries	72,503	50,648
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(128,084)	(117,799)
Total liabilities and equity	128,176	244,391
Assets:
Income taxes receivable	128,176	244,391
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	3,076	2,842
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Assets:
Assets	1,717,871	1,470,630
Liabilities and equity:
Notes payable	1,933,119	1,685,892
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries		11,902
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(215,335)	(227,324)
Total liabilities and equity	1,717,871	1,470,630
Assets:
Income taxes receivable	(89,212)
Intercompany receivable	1,575,712	1,275,453
Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries	1,013
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Assets	230,358	195,177
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	87	160
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets:
Assets	2,203,816	1,726,319
Liabilities and equity:
Notes payable	2,132	3,336
Intercompany payable	1,453,311	1,002,914
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	143,842	164,771
Total liabilities and equity	2,203,816	1,726,319
Assets:
Income taxes receivable	251,293	40,152
Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries	383,032	338,044
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Assets	1,553,811	1,336,716
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	588,854	544,088
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Assets:
Assets	15,680	11,407
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	15,677	11,210
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets:
Assets	570,472	498,248
Liabilities and equity:
Notes payable	384	551
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	383,035	338,047
Total liabilities and equity	570,472	498,248
Assets:
Income taxes receivable	22
Intercompany receivable	58,280	36,161
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Assets:
Assets	367,869	353,151
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	65,947	71,663
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Assets:
Assets	144,301	108,936
Liabilities and equity:
Liability	121,106	87,987
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Assets:
Assets	(2,018,037)	(1,649,658)
Liabilities and equity:
Intercompany payable	(1,633,992)	(1,311,614)
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries	(72,503)	(62,550)
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(311,542)	(275,494)
Total liabilities and equity	(2,018,037)	(1,649,658)
Assets:
Intercompany receivable	(1,633,992)	(1,311,614)
Investments in and amounts due from consolidated subsidiaries	$ (384,045)	$ (338,044)

Note 22 - Financial Informati96

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Total revenues									$ 2,148,480	$ 2,063,380	$ 1,851,253
Expenses:
Total expenses	$ 653,080	$ 549,089	$ 495,585	$ 464,616	$ 663,149	$ 535,107	$ 456,617	$ 389,845	2,174,414	2,049,942	1,840,598
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt							(1,155)			(1,155)	(760)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,699	(448)	1,466	1,452	4,048	211	1,067	2,571	4,169	7,897	12,040
Income (loss) before income taxes	37,397	(10,001)	(29,481)	(19,680)	35,996	15,372	(7,298)	(23,890)	(21,765)	20,180	21,935
State and federal income tax provision (benefit)	11,878	(2,317)	(9,922)	(5,304)	(286,468)	(1,733)	604	633	(5,665)	(286,964)	(9,360)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries										0
Net (loss) income	$ 25,519	$ (7,684)	$ (19,559)	$ (14,376)	$ 322,464	$ 17,105	$ (7,902)	$ (24,523)	(16,100)	307,144	31,295
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									2,091,815	2,020,966	1,803,526
Expenses:
Total expenses									2,142,442	2,021,326	1,811,539
Income (loss) before income taxes									71,663	139,336	135,489
Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									56,665	42,414	47,727
Expenses:
Total expenses									31,972	28,616	29,059
Income (loss) before income taxes									24,693	13,798	18,668
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										25	3
Expenses:
Total expenses									5,230	3,306	8,625
Income (loss) before income taxes									(5,230)	(3,281)	(8,622)
State and federal income tax provision (benefit)									(10,985)	(298,775)	(21,541)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries									(21,855)	11,650	18,376
Net (loss) income									(16,100)	307,144	31,295
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues										25	3
Expenses:
Total expenses									5,125	3,286	8,608
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Expenses:
Total expenses									105	20	17
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									124,361	100,878	81,581
Expenses:
Total expenses									155,773	131,730	123,511
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt										(1,155)	(770,769)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(31,412)	(32,007)	(812,699)
State and federal income tax provision (benefit)									(30,486)	(908)
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries									12,915	(14,177)	(11,514)
Net (loss) income									11,989	(45,276)	(824,213)
Revenues:
Intercompany charges									124,361	100,878	81,816
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues											(235)
Expenses:
Total expenses									155,773	131,730	123,511
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									1,787,385	1,660,915	1,402,190
Expenses:
Total expenses									1,817,576	1,657,369	1,380,081
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt											770,009
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									82	94	2,327
Income (loss) before income taxes									(30,109)	3,640	794,445
State and federal income tax provision (benefit)									35,808	12,719	12,181
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries									44,988	51,828	39,748
Net (loss) income									(20,929)	42,749	822,012
Revenues:
Intercompany charges									124,360	100,878	(104,212)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									1,778,700	1,651,343	1,497,016
Expenses:
Total expenses									1,686,726	1,549,659	1,373,360
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									8,685	9,572	9,386
Expenses:
Total expenses									6,490	6,832	6,721
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									361,095	402,440	347,746
Expenses:
Total expenses									320,196	358,415	317,711
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									4,087	7,803	9,713
Income (loss) before income taxes									44,986	51,828	39,748
State and federal income tax provision (benefit)									(2)
Net (loss) income									44,988	51,828	39,748
Revenues:
Intercompany charges									1		(2,325)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									313,115	369,598	311,730
Expenses:
Total expenses									294,818	336,651	295,390
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									47,980	32,842	38,341
Expenses:
Total expenses									25,377	21,764	22,321
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues									(124,361)	(100,878)	19,733
Expenses:
Total expenses									(124,361)	(100,878)	10,670
Income (loss) before income taxes											9,063
Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries									(36,048)	(49,301)	(46,610)
Net (loss) income									(36,048)	(49,301)	(37,547)
Revenues:
Intercompany charges									$ (124,361)	$ (100,878)	24,721
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues											(4,988)
Expenses:
Total expenses											$ 10,670

Note 22 - Financial Informati97

Note 22 - Financial Information of Subsidiary Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) - Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements - Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 25,519	$ (7,684)	$ (19,559)	$ (14,376)	$ 322,464	$ 17,105	$ (7,902)	$ (24,523)	$ (16,100)	$ 307,144	$ 31,295
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(304,435)	(497,729)	(22,027)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(320,535)	(190,585)	9,268
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and assets									1,573	515	7,369
Purchase of property, equipment & other fixed assets and acquisitions									(2,054)	(3,423)	(1,558)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash related to mortgage company									1,555	(655)
Decrease in restricted cash related to letters of credit									2,993
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures									(18,707)	(21,699)	(4,907)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures									17,112	11,107	24,806
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									2,472	(14,155)	30,285
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from mortgages and notes									39,383	40,770
Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs									22,984	19,214
Net proceeds from land bank financing programs									(7,345)	(17,306)
Net proceeds from senior notes									250,000	121,447
Payments related to senior notes									(60,815)	(22,593)	(40,424)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility									47,000
Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit									31,956	(14,744)	(15,822)
Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances									(9,015)	(11,947)	(5,071)
Principal payments on amortizing and debt repurchases									(4,238)	(5,960)	(6,231)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									309,910	137,434	16,419
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(8,153)	(67,306)	55,972
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year				261,898				329,204	261,898	329,204	273,232
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year	253,745				261,898				253,745	261,898	329,204
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income									(36,048)	(49,301)	(37,547)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									36,048	49,301	37,547
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany investing activities									313,174	167,370
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									313,174	167,370
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany financing activities									(313,174)	(167,370)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(313,174)	(167,370)
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income									(16,100)	307,144	31,295
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									122,264	(277,932)	29,653
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									106,164	29,212	60,948
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany financing activities									(106,164)	(29,212)	(60,948)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(106,164)	(29,212)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income									11,989	(45,276)	(824,213)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									110,820	14,334	797,892
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									122,809	(30,942)	(26,321)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Decrease in restricted cash related to letters of credit									2,993
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures									16	(95)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures									315	203
Intercompany investing activities									(313,174)	(167,370)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(309,850)	(167,262)	235
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from senior notes									250,000	121,447
Payments related to senior notes									(60,815)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility									47,000
Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances									(5,096)	(7,205)
Principal payments on amortizing and debt repurchases									(4,238)
Intercompany financing activities											78,598
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									226,851	114,242	(6,139)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									39,810	(83,962)	46,373
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year				159,508				243,470	159,508	243,470	197,097
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year	199,318				159,508				199,318	159,508	243,470
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income									(20,929)	42,749	822,012
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(456,704)	(303,507)	(875,287)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(477,633)	(260,758)	(53,275)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and assets									1,556	467
Purchase of property, equipment & other fixed assets and acquisitions									(2,054)	(3,395)
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures									(114)	(831)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures									646	3,787
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									34	28	11,819
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from mortgages and notes									27,881	39,345
Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs									17,117	17,232
Net proceeds from land bank financing programs									(6,198)	(8,297)
Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances									(2,732)	(4,051)
Intercompany financing activities									441,457	218,254	(15,920)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									477,525	262,483	52,914
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(74)	1,753	(4,462)
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year				(4,726)				(6,479)	(4,726)	(6,479)	(2,017)
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year	(4,800)				(4,726)				(4,800)	(4,726)	(6,479)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income									44,988	51,828	39,748
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(116,863)	20,075	(11,832)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									(71,875)	71,903	27,916
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and assets									17	48
Purchase of property, equipment & other fixed assets and acquisitions										(28)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash related to mortgage company									1,555	(655)
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures									(18,609)	(20,773)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures									16,151	7,117
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(886)	(14,291)	18,231
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from mortgages and notes									11,502	1,425
Net proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs									5,867	1,982
Net proceeds from land bank financing programs									(1,147)	(9,009)
Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit									31,956	(14,744)
Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances									(1,187)	(691)
Intercompany financing activities									(22,119)	(21,672)	(1,730)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									24,872	(42,709)	(30,356)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(47,889)	14,903	14,061
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year				$ 107,116				$ 92,213	107,116	92,213	78,152
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year	$ 59,227				$ 107,116				$ 59,227	$ 107,116	$ 92,213

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarize98

Note 23 - Unaudited Summarized Consolidated Quarterly Information (Details) - Summarized Quarterly Financial Information - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Summarized Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 693,204	$ 540,613	$ 468,949	$ 445,714	$ 698,394	$ 551,009	$ 449,929	$ 364,048	$ 2,148,480	$ 2,063,380	$ 1,851,253
Expenses	653,080	549,089	495,585	464,616	663,149	535,107	456,617	389,845	2,174,414	2,049,942	1,840,598
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs	4,426	1,077	4,311	2,230	3,297	741	522	664	12,044	5,224	4,965
Loss on extinguishment of debt							(1,155)			(1,155)	(760)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,699	(448)	1,466	1,452	4,048	211	1,067	2,571	4,169	7,897	12,040
Income (loss) before income taxes	37,397	(10,001)	(29,481)	(19,680)	35,996	15,372	(7,298)	(23,890)	(21,765)	20,180	21,935
State and federal income tax	11,878	(2,317)	(9,922)	(5,304)	(286,468)	(1,733)	604	633	(5,665)	(286,964)	(9,360)
Net (loss) income	$ 25,519	$ (7,684)	$ (19,559)	$ (14,376)	$ 322,464	$ 17,105	$ (7,902)	$ (24,523)	$ (16,100)	$ 307,144	$ 31,295
Basic:
Income (loss) per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ 2.15	$ 0.11	$ (0.05)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.11)	$ 2.05	$ 0.22
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)	147,057	147,010	146,946	146,929	146,413	146,365	146,325	145,982	146,899	146,271	145,087
Assuming dilution:
Income (loss) per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.05)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ 1.95	$ 0.11	$ (0.05)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.87	$ 0.22
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in Shares)	160,299	147,010	146,946	146,929	161,720	162,278	146,325	145,982	146,899	162,441	162,329

Note 24 - Subsequent Events (De

Note 24 - Subsequent Events (Details) - Subsequent Event [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2015
Note 24 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Proceeds From Contribution Of Land To Joint Venture		$ 25.7
GSO Capital Partners, LP [Member]
Note 24 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Land Banking Transaction, Amount	$ 175