Toll Brothers (TOL) 10-Q4 Jun 152015 Q2 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Apr. 30, 2015	Jun. 01, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TOLL BROTHERS INC
Entity Central Index Key	794170
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-21
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	30-Apr-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		176,103,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$532,157	$586,315
Marketable securities	10,015	12,026
Restricted cash	17,962	18,342
Inventory	6,724,343	6,490,321
Property, construction and office equipment, net	141,143	143,010
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	258,958	251,572
Mortgage loans held for sale	80,864	101,944
Customer deposits held in escrow	44,399	42,073
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	467,259	447,078
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	65,938	73,800
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	244,643	250,421
Total assets	8,587,681	8,416,902
Liabilities:
Loans payable	674,817	654,261
Senior notes	2,655,798	2,655,044
Mortgage company loan facility	70,052	90,281
Customer deposits	275,347	223,799
Accounts payable	233,675	225,347
Accrued expenses	586,411	581,477
Income taxes payable	37,641	125,996
Total liabilities	4,533,741	4,556,205
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, none issued	0	0
Common stock, 177,930 shares issued at both April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014	1,779	1,779
Additional paid-in capital	722,303	712,162
Retained earnings	3,381,290	3,232,035
Treasury stock, at cost - 1,830 and 2,884 shares at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively	-55,980	-88,762
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-3,051	-2,838
Total stockholders' equity	4,046,341	3,854,376
Noncontrolling interest	7,599	6,321
Total equity	4,053,940	3,860,697
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$8,587,681	$8,416,902

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, shares issued		0
Common stock, shares issued	177,930	177,930
Treasury stock, at cost	1,830	2,884

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Revenues	$852,583	$860,374	$1,706,035	$1,504,055
Cost of revenues	678,512	687,998	1,328,544	1,202,030
Selling, general and administrative	107,685	104,320	213,999	202,190
Total	786,197	792,318	1,542,543	1,404,220
Income from operations	66,386	68,056	163,492	99,835
Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities	6,227	14,327	11,128	37,242
Other income - net	13,919	11,101	35,935	27,642
Income before income taxes	86,532	93,484	210,555	164,719
Income tax provision (benefit)	18,602	28,262	61,300	53,917
Net income	67,930	65,222	149,255	110,802
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Change in pension liability	-23	103	-201	156
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities		9	2	-22
Change in unrealized income (loss) on derivative held by equity investee	-7	-18	-14	223
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-30	94	-213	357
Total comprehensive income	$67,900	$65,316	$149,042	$111,159
Income per share:
Basic	$0.38	$0.37	$0.85	$0.63
Diluted	$0.37	$0.35	$0.81	$0.60
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic	176,458	178,082	176,267	177,278
Diluted	184,838	186,442	184,472	185,665

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net income	$149,255	$110,802
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	11,772	11,095
Stock-based compensation	12,552	12,294
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	-3,045	-1,841
Income Loss from Unconsolidated Entities	-11,128	-37,242
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	11,490	39,471
Income from distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	-5,205	-7,934
Deferred tax provision	7,197	18,864
Deferred tax valuation allowances	-1,290	-1,226
Inventory impairments and write-offs	13,310	3,906
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments	245	429
(Gain) loss on marketable securities		-6
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory	-201,915	-319,826
Origination of mortgage loans	-382,718	-308,466
Sale of mortgage loans	403,197	352,349
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	380	9,494
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	-14,387	-4,587
Increase in customer deposits	49,222	28,994
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	8,436	21,973
Increase in income taxes payable	-85,310	5,272
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	-37,942	-66,185
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	-5,884	-5,767
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	2,000	39,243
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	-27,705	-80,654
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	10,637	39,014
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	-1,697	-757
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	14,592	22,424
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest	3,848
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired		-1,489,116
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	-4,209	-1,475,613
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		600,000
Debt issuance costs for senior notes		-4,700
Proceeds from loans payable	529,053	1,597,562
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable		-3,005
Principal payments of loans payable	-572,838	-1,046,677
Redemption of senior notes		-267,960
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		220,357
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	34,057	23,333
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	3,045	1,841
Purchase of treasury stock	-6,616	-185
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	1,292	81
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-12,007	1,120,647
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-54,158	-421,151
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	586,315	772,972
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$532,157	$351,821

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies	Apr. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Toll Brothers, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Delaware corporation, and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Investments in 50% or less owned partnerships and affiliates are accounted for using the equity method unless it is determined that we have effective control of the entity, in which case we would consolidate the entity.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. The October 31, 2014 balance sheet amounts and disclosures included herein have been derived from our October 31, 2014 audited financial statements. Since the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements, we suggest that they be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position as of April 30, 2015, the results of our operations for the six-month and three-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, and our cash flows for the six-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 is intended to eliminate inconsistent practices regarding the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from the disallowance of a tax position. We adopted ASU 2013-11 on November 1, 2014 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In April 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04, “Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-04”), which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date. We adopted ASU 2013-04 on November 1, 2014 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”), which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2016. Upon adoption, we must apply the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 is not expected to have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810) - Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”), which eliminates the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entities (“VIEs”) guidance and makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation guidance. The new guidance applies to all entities involved with limited partnerships or similar entities and will require re-evaluation of these entities under the revised guidance which may change previous consolidation conclusions. ASU 2015-02 is effective for us beginning February 1, 2016, and, at that time, we may adopt the new standard retrospectively or use a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts.” The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2017, and, at that time, we may adopt the new standard under the full retrospective approach or the modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
	In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04, “Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors” (“ASU 2014-04”), which clarifies when an in substance repossession or foreclosure of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan has occurred. By doing so, this guidance helps determine when the creditor should derecognize the loan receivable and recognize the real estate property. ASU 2014-04 is effective prospectively for us beginning November 1, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2014-04 is not expected to have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Acquisition

Acquisition	6 Months Ended
Acquisition	Apr. 30, 2015
Acquisition [Abstract]
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	Acquisition
	On February 4, 2014, we completed our acquisition of Shapell Industries, Inc. (“Shapell”) pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated November 6, 2013 with Shapell Investment Properties, Inc. (“SIPI”). We acquired all of the equity interests in Shapell from SIPI for $1.49 billion, net of cash acquired (the “Acquisition”). We acquired the single-family residential real property development business of Shapell, including a portfolio of approximately 4,950 home sites in California, some of which we have sold to other builders. As part of the Acquisition, we assumed contracts to deliver 126 homes with an aggregate value of approximately $105.3 million.
	We did not acquire the apartment and commercial rental properties owned and operated by Shapell (the “Shapell Commercial Properties”) or Shapell’s mortgage lending activities relating to its home building operations. Accordingly, the Purchase Agreement provides that SIPI will indemnify us for any loss arising out of or resulting from, among other things, (i) any liability (other than environmental losses, subject to certain exceptions) related to the Shapell Commercial Properties, and (ii) any liability (other than environmental losses, subject to certain exceptions) to the extent related to Shapell Mortgage, Inc. See Note 2, “Acquisitions” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2014 for additional information regarding the Acquisition.
	In the six-month and three-month periods ended April 30, 2014, we recorded acquisition-related costs of $5.9 million and $5.1 million, respectively, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income within “Selling, general and administrative.” Such costs were expensed as incurred in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations.” There were no acquisition-related costs incurred in the six-month and three-month periods ended April 30, 2015.

Inventory

Inventory	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventory	Inventory
	Inventory at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land controlled for future communities	$	58,985		$	122,533

	Land owned for future communities	2,229,518			2,355,874

	Operating communities	4,435,840			4,011,914

		$	6,724,343		$	6,490,321

	Operating communities include communities offering homes for sale; communities that have sold all available home sites but have not completed delivery of the homes; communities that were previously offering homes for sale but are temporarily closed due to business conditions or non-availability of improved home sites and that are expected to reopen within twelve months of the end of the fiscal period being reported on; and communities preparing to open for sale. The carrying value attributable to operating communities includes the cost of homes under construction, land and land development costs, the carrying cost of home sites in current and future phases of these communities, and the carrying cost of model homes.
	Communities that were previously offering homes for sale but are temporarily closed due to business conditions that do not have any remaining backlog and are not expected to reopen within twelve months of the end of the fiscal period being reported on have been classified as land owned for future communities. Backlog consists of homes under contract but not yet delivered to our home buyers (“backlog”).
	Information regarding the classification, number, and carrying value of these temporarily closed communities, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below.


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land owned for future communities:
	Number of communities	18			16

	Carrying value (in thousands)	$	156,267		$	122,015

	Operating communities:
	Number of communities	8			9

	Carrying value (in thousands)	$	23,025		$	42,092


	The amounts we have provided for inventory impairment charges and the expensing of costs that we believed not to be recoverable, for the periods indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Land controlled for future communities	$	610		$	1,006		$	366		$	324

	Land owned for future communities	700						700

	Operating communities	12,000			2,900			11,100			1,600

		$	13,310		$	3,906		$	12,166		$	1,924

	See Note 13, “Fair Value Disclosures,” for information regarding the number of operating communities that we tested for potential impairment, the number of operating communities in which we recognized impairment charges, the amount of impairment charges recognized, and the fair values of those communities, net of impairment charges.
	See Note 15, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for information regarding land purchase commitments.
	At April 30, 2015, we evaluated our land purchase contracts to determine if any of the selling entities were VIEs and, if they were, whether we were the primary beneficiary of any of them. Under these land purchase contracts, we do not possess legal title to the land; our risk is generally limited to deposits paid to the sellers; and the creditors of the sellers generally have no recourse against us. At April 30, 2015, we determined that 55 land purchase contracts, with an aggregate purchase price of $629.3 million, on which we had made aggregate deposits totaling $29.7 million, were VIEs and that we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIE related to our land purchase contracts. At October 31, 2014, we determined that 63 land purchase contracts, with an aggregate purchase price of $578.2 million, on which we had made aggregate deposits totaling $30.7 million, were VIEs, and that we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIE related to our land purchase contracts.
	Interest incurred, capitalized, and expensed, for the periods indicated, was as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Interest capitalized, beginning of period	$	356,180		$	343,077		$	364,228		$	356,618

	Interest incurred	80,458			82,628			39,954			42,684

	Interest expensed to cost of revenues	(57,953		)	(54,585		)	(29,576		)	(29,145		)
	Write-off against other income	(1,738		)	(1,039		)	(410		)	(722		)
	Interest capitalized on investments in unconsolidated entities	(4,825		)	(4,757		)	(2,074		)	(2,300		)
	Previously capitalized interest on investments in unconsolidated entities transferred to inventory	772			1,811			772

	Interest capitalized, end of period	$	372,894		$	367,135		$	372,894		$	367,135

Inventory impairment charges are recognized against all inventory costs of a community, such as land, land improvements, cost of home construction, and capitalized interest. The amounts included in the table directly above reflect the gross amount of capitalized interest without allocation of any impairment charges recognized. We estimate that, had inventory impairment charges been allocated on a pro rata basis to the individual components of inventory, capitalized interest at April 30, 2015 and 2014 would have been reduced by approximately $33.7 million and $35.4 million, respectively.

Investments_in_and_Advances_to

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Text Block]	Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities
	We have investments in and advances to various unconsolidated entities. These joint ventures (i) develop land for use by certain joint venture participants and, in other cases, for sale to other third party builders (“Land Development Joint Ventures”); (ii) develop for-sale homes and condominiums (“Home Building Joint Ventures”); (iii) develop luxury for-rent residential apartments, commercial space and a hotel (“Rental Property Joint Ventures”), which includes our investments in Toll Brothers Realty Trust (the “Trust”) and Toll Brothers Realty Trust II (“Trust II”); and (iv) invest in a portfolio of distressed loans and real estate (“Structured Asset Joint Venture”).
	The table below provides information, as of April 30, 2015, regarding active joint ventures that we are invested in, by joint venture category ($ amounts in thousands):


		Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
		Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
		Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
	Number of investments in unconsolidated entities	7			4			10			1			22
	Investment in unconsolidated entities	$	144,103		$	205,253		$	100,939		$	16,964		$	467,259

	Number of unconsolidated entities with funding commitments by the Company	4			2			4			—			10

	Company's remaining funding commitment to unconsolidated entities	$	31,180		$	29,887		$	19,807		$	—		$	80,874

	Certain joint ventures in which we have investments obtained debt financing to finance a portion of their activities. The table below provides information at April 30, 2015 regarding the debt financing obtained by category ($ amounts in thousands):


		Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Total
		Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures
		Joint Ventures
	Number of joint ventures with debt financing	3			2			8			13
	Aggregate loan commitments	$	175,000		$	222,000		$	734,685		$	1,131,685

	Amounts borrowed under commitments	$	111,506		$	78,906		$	431,584		$	621,996

	More specific and/or recent information regarding our investments in, advances to, and future commitments to these entities is provided below; such activity is also included in the summary information provided above.
	Land Development Joint Ventures
	See Note 15, "Commitments and Contingencies," for information regarding land purchase agreements that we have with our Land Development Joint Ventures.
	In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we received approximately 48 home sites from a Land Development Joint Venture in consideration of our previous investment in the joint venture. In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we received approximately 515 home sites from this venture. We have a commitment to this joint venture to fund approximately $15.5 million which represents our expected share of the major infrastructure improvements related to this community. Contributions to this joint venture related to these improvements will be included in “Inventory” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets when they are actually made.
	Home Building Joint Ventures
	In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we entered into a joint venture with an unrelated party to complete the development of a high-rise luxury condominium project in New York City on property that we owned. We contributed $15.9 million as our initial contribution for a 25% interest in this joint venture. We sold the property to the joint venture for $78.5 million and we were reimbursed for development and construction costs incurred by us prior to the sale. The gain of $9.3 million that we achieved on the sale was deferred and will be recognized in our results of operations as units are sold and delivered to the ultimate home buyer. At April 30, 2015, we had an investment of $16.7 million in this joint venture. The joint venture entered into a construction loan agreement of $124.0 million to fund the land purchase and a portion of the cost of the development of the property. At April 30, 2015, the joint venture had $52.1 million borrowed under the construction loan.
	We have an investment in a joint venture in which we have a 50% interest to develop a high-rise luxury condominium project in conjunction with a luxury hotel in New York City. At April 30, 2015, we had invested $28.6 million in this joint venture and expect to make additional investments of approximately $21.6 million for the development of this project. In November 2014, this joint venture, along with the hotel joint venture discussed in Rental Property Joint Ventures below, entered into a $160.0 million construction loan agreement to complete the construction of the condominiums and hotel. At April 30, 2015, this joint venture had $26.8 million of outstanding borrowings under the loan agreement.
	We have invested in a joint venture in which we have a 50% voting interest to develop 400 Park Avenue South, a high-rise luxury for-sale/rental project in New York City. At April 30, 2015, we had an investment of $132.0 million in this joint venture. Pursuant to the terms of the joint venture agreement, following completion of the construction of the building’s structure, we will acquire, with no additional consideration due from us, ownership of the top 18 floors of the building to sell, for our own account, luxury condominium units. Our partner will receive ownership of the lower floors containing residential rental units and retail space, with no additional consideration due from them. We expect to receive title to our floors during our third quarter of fiscal 2015. At the time of transfer, our investment in this joint venture will be reclassified from “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to “Inventory.” Contracts at 400 Park Avenue South have always been reported as if the project was wholly owned.
	Rental Property Joint Ventures
	In the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we entered into two joint ventures with an unrelated party to develop luxury for-rent residential apartment buildings. Prior to the formation of these joint ventures, we acquired the properties, through two 100%-owned entities, and incurred $18.8 million of land and land development costs. Our partner acquired a 75% interest in each of these entities for $14.5 million, of which $2.3 million was unpaid as of April 30, 2015. At April 30, 2015, we had a combined investment of $5.0 million and funding commitments of $5.5 million in these ventures. In addition, in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, one of the joint ventures entered into a $39.0 million construction loan agreement with two banks to finance the development of this project. At April 30, 2015, this joint venture had no borrowings under the construction loan agreement. The second joint venture expects to enter into a construction loan agreement during the second half of fiscal 2015.
	We have an investment in a joint venture in which we have a 50% interest to develop a luxury hotel in conjunction with a high-rise luxury condominium project in the urban New York market. At April 30, 2015, we had invested $16.8 million in this joint venture and expect to make additional investments of approximately $13.9 million for the development of the hotel. In November 2014, this joint venture, along with a joint venture discussed in Home Building Joint Ventures above, entered into a $160.0 million construction loan agreement to complete the construction of the condominiums and the hotel. At April 30, 2015, this joint venture had $12.4 million of outstanding borrowings under the loan agreement.
	In fiscal 2005, we, together with an unrelated party, formed Trust II to invest in commercial real estate opportunities. Trust II is owned 50% by us and 50% by our partner. In December 2013, Trust II sold substantially all of its assets to an unrelated party. As a result of this sale, we realized income of approximately $23.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, representing our share of the gain on the sale. Our share of the gain on sale of assets is included in “Income from unconsolidated entities” for the six months ended April 30, 2014 in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income. In December 2013, we received a $20.0 million cash distribution from Trust II. In addition, in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, we recognized $2.9 million in previously deferred gains on our initial sales of the properties to Trust II. This gain is included in “Other income - net,” for the six months ended April 30, 2014, in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income. At April 30, 2015, we had an investment of $0.7 million in Trust II.
	In 1998, prior to the formation of Trust II, we formed the Trust to invest in commercial real estate opportunities. The Trust is effectively owned one-third by us; one-third by Robert I. Toll, Bruce E. Toll (and members of his family), Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. and former members of our senior management; and one-third by an unrelated party. As of April 30, 2015, our investment in the Trust was zero as distributions received from the Trust were in excess of the carrying amount of our net investment. We provide development, finance, and management services to the Trust and recognized fees under the terms of various agreements in the amounts of $1.2 million and $1.7 million in the six-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $0.6 million and $1.1 million in the three-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we received a $2.0 million distribution from the Trust which is included in “Income from unconsolidated entities” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. In the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Trust refinanced the mortgage on one of its properties and distributed $36.0 million of the net proceeds from the refinancing to its partners. We received $12.0 million as our share of the proceeds and recognized this distribution as income in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
	Guarantees
	The unconsolidated entities in which we have investments generally finance their activities with a combination of partner equity and debt financing. In some instances, we and our partners have guaranteed debt of certain unconsolidated entities. These guarantees may include any, or all, of the following: (i) project completion guarantees, including any cost overruns; (ii) repayment guarantees, generally covering a percentage of the outstanding loan; (iii) guarantees of indemnities provided to the lender by the unconsolidated entity with regard to environmental matters; (iv) a hazardous material indemnity that holds the lender harmless for any liability it may suffer from the threat or presence of any hazardous or toxic substances at or near the property covered by a loan; and (v) indemnification of the lender from “bad boy acts” of the unconsolidated entity.
	In some instances, the guarantees provided in connection with loans to an unconsolidated entity are joint and several. In these situations, we generally have a reimbursement agreement with our partner that provides that neither party is responsible for more than its proportionate share or agreed-upon share of the guarantee; however, if a joint venture partner does not have adequate financial resources to meet its obligations under the reimbursement agreement, we may be liable for more than our proportionate share.
	We believe that, as of April 30, 2015, in the event we become legally obligated to perform under a guarantee of the obligation of an unconsolidated entity due to a triggering event, the collateral in such entity should be sufficient to repay a significant portion of the obligation. If it is not, we and our partners would need to contribute additional capital to the venture. At April 30, 2015, the unconsolidated entities that have guarantees related to debt had loan commitments aggregating $922.2 million and had borrowed an aggregate of $412.5 million. The terms of these guarantees generally range from seven months to 60 months. We estimate that the maximum potential exposure under these guarantees, if the full amount of the loan commitments were borrowed, would be $922.2 million before any reimbursement from our partners. Based on the amounts borrowed at April 30, 2015, our maximum potential exposure under these guarantees is estimated to be approximately $412.5 million before any reimbursement from our partners.
	In addition, we have guaranteed approximately $10.9 million of ground lease payments and insurance deductibles for three joint ventures.
	As of April 30, 2015, the estimated aggregate fair value of the guarantees provided by us related to debt and other obligations of certain unconsolidated entities was approximately $4.5 million. We have not made payments under any of the guarantees, nor have we been called upon to do so.
	Variable Interest Entities
	At April 30, 2015, we determined that one of our joint ventures was a VIE under the guidance within ASC 810, “Consolidation.” At October 31, 2014, we had determined that three of our joint ventures were VIEs under this guidance; we have concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs because the power to direct the activities of these VIEs that most significantly impact their performance was shared by us and the VIEs’ other members. Business plans, budgets, and other major decisions are required to be unanimously approved by all members. Management and other fees earned by us are nominal and believed to be at market rates, and there is no significant economic disproportionality between us and the other members. The information presented below regarding the investments, commitments, and guarantees in unconsolidated entities deemed to be VIEs is also included in the information provided above.
	At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures deemed to be VIEs, which are included in “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $7.0 million and $46.4 million, respectively. At April 30, 2015, the maximum exposure of loss to our investment in the unconsolidated joint venture that is a VIE is limited to our investment in the unconsolidated VIE, except with regard to $0.4 million of additional commitments to the VIE. At October 31, 2014, the maximum exposure of loss to our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures that are VIEs is limited to our investment in the unconsolidated VIEs, except with regard to $43.4 million of additional commitments to fund the joint ventures and a $9.1 million guaranty of ground lease payments.
	Joint Venture Condensed Financial Information
	The Condensed Balance Sheets, as of the dates indicated, and the Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the periods indicated, for the unconsolidated entities in which we have an investment, aggregated by type of business, are included below (in thousands).
	Condensed Balance Sheets:


		April 30, 2015
		Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
		Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
		Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	29,519		$	13,378		$	32,607		$	13,347		$	88,851

	Inventory	245,998			627,461									873,459

	Non-performing loan portfolio										41,522			41,522

	Rental properties							245,087						245,087

Rental properties under development							330,394						330,394

Real estate owned (“REO”)										162,843			162,843

Other assets (1)	55,346			69,551			12,773			77,990			215,660

Total assets	$	330,863		$	710,390		$	620,861		$	295,702		$	1,957,816

Debt (1)	$	112,620		$	86,186		$	431,584		$	77,950		$	708,340

Other liabilities	31,308			56,870			29,922			5			118,105

Members’ equity	186,935			567,334			159,355			87,111			1,000,735

Noncontrolling interest										130,636			130,636

Total liabilities and equity	$	330,863		$	710,390		$	620,861		$	295,702		$	1,957,816

Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)	$	144,103		$	205,253		$	100,939		$	16,964		$	467,259




	October 31, 2014
	Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
	Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
	Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
Cash and cash equivalents	$	31,968		$	21,821		$	33,040		$	23,462		$	110,291

Inventory	258,092			465,144									723,236

Non-performing loan portfolio										57,641			57,641

Rental properties							140,238						140,238

Rental properties under development							327,315						327,315

Real estate owned (“REO”)										184,753			184,753

Other assets (1)	30,166			75,164			14,333			77,986			197,649

Total assets	$	320,226		$	562,129		$	514,926		$	343,842		$	1,741,123

Debt (1)	$	102,042		$	8,713		$	333,128		$	77,950		$	521,833

Other liabilities	23,854			56,665			43,088			177			123,784

Members’ equity	194,330			496,751			138,710			106,298			936,089

Noncontrolling interest										159,417			159,417

Total liabilities and equity	$	320,226		$	562,129		$	514,926		$	343,842		$	1,741,123

Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)	$	140,221		$	189,509		$	97,353		$	19,995		$	447,078



-1	Included in other assets of the Structured Asset Joint Venture at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 is $78.0 million of restricted cash held in a defeasance account which will be used to repay debt of the Structured Asset Joint Venture.

-2	Differences between our net investment in unconsolidated entities and our underlying equity in the net assets of the entities are primarily a result of the acquisition price of an investment in a land development joint venture in fiscal 2012 that was in excess of our pro-rata share of the underlying equity; impairments related to our investment in unconsolidated entities; a loan made to one of the entities by us; interest capitalized on our investment; the estimated fair value of the guarantees provided to the joint ventures; and distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of our net investment.

Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income:


	For the six months ended April 30, 2015
	Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
	Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
	Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
Revenues	$	31,759		$	36,259		$	15,327		$	2,961		$	86,306

Cost of revenues	16,116			31,358			7,227			8,848			63,549

Other expenses	533			2,876			8,698			592			12,699

Total expenses	16,649			34,234			15,925			9,440			76,248

Gain on disposition of loans and REO										23,586			23,586

Income (loss) from operations	15,110			2,025			(598		)	17,107			33,644

Other income	11			341						1,355			1,707

Net income (loss)	15,121			2,366			(598		)	18,462			35,351

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest										(11,077		)	(11,077		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	15,121			2,366			(598		)	7,385			24,274

Other comprehensive loss							(45		)				(45		)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	15,121		$	2,366		$	(643	)	$	7,385		$	24,229

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	5,381		$	1,458		$	2,815		$	1,474		$	11,128




	For the six months ended April 30, 2014
	Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
	Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
	Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
Revenues	$	111,950		$	23,228		$	17,006		$	3,789		$	155,973

Cost of revenues	62,170			21,825			7,390			6,482			97,867

Other expenses	465			2,047			21,558			874			24,944

Total expenses	62,635			23,872			28,948			7,356			122,811

Gain on disposition of loans and REO										6,458			6,458

Income (loss) from operations	49,315			(644		)	(11,942		)	2,891			39,620

Other income	5			201			43,199			1,533			44,938

Net income (loss)	49,320			(443		)	31,257			4,424			84,558

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest										(2,654		)	(2,654		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	49,320			(443		)	31,257			1,770			81,904

Other comprehensive income							729						729

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	49,320		$	(443	)	$	31,986		$	1,770		$	82,633

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	103		$	327		$	36,622		$	190		$	37,242




	For the three months ended April 30, 2015
	Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
	Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
	Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
Revenues	$	13,484		$	16,965		$	7,716		$	2,072		$	40,237

Cost of revenues	6,486			14,445			3,958			2,773			27,662

Other expenses	299			1,301			4,309			266			6,175

Total expenses	6,785			15,746			8,267			3,039			33,837

Gain on disposition of loans and REO										15,955			15,955

Income (loss) from operations	6,699			1,219			(551		)	14,988			22,355

Other income	11			268						768			1,047

Net income (loss)	6,710			1,487			(551		)	15,756			23,402

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest										(9,454		)	(9,454		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	6,710			1,487			(551		)	6,302			13,948

Other comprehensive loss							(23		)				(23		)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	6,710		$	1,487		$	(574	)	$	6,302		$	13,925

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	2,939		$	916		$	1,114		$	1,258		$	6,227




	For the three months ended April 30, 2014
	Land			Home Building			Rental Property			Structured			Total
	Development			Joint Ventures			Joint Ventures			Asset
	Joint Ventures									Joint Venture
Revenues	$	110,406		$	11,647		$	7,557		$	3,505		$	133,115

Cost of revenues	61,488			11,451			3,419			4,132			80,490

Other expenses	210			1,047			9,504			415			11,176

Total expenses	61,698			12,498			12,923			4,547			91,666

Gain on disposition of loans and REO										2,551			2,551

Income (loss) from operations	48,708			(851		)	(5,366		)	1,509			44,000

Other income	4			162			342			1,409			1,917

Net income (loss)	48,712			(689		)	(5,024		)	2,918			45,917

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest										(1,751		)	(1,751		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	48,712			(689		)	(5,024		)	1,167			44,166

Other comprehensive loss							(56		)				(56		)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	48,712		$	(689	)	$	(5,080	)	$	1,167		$	44,110

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	135		$	145		$	12,872		$	1,175		$	14,327



-3	Differences between our equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and the underlying net income (loss) of the entities are primarily a result of a basis difference of an acquired joint venture interest, distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of our net investment, and our share of the entities’ profits related to home sites purchased by us which reduces our cost basis of the home sites acquired.

Investments_in_Distressed_Loan

Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Investments in Non-Performing Loan Portfolios and Foreclosed Real Estate [Abstract]
Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate	Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate
	Investments in distressed loans and REO consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Investment in distressed loans	$	2,258		$	4,001

	Investment in REO	63,680			69,799

		$	65,938		$	73,800

	In prior periods, we presented our investments in distressed loans and REO in two separate line items on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at October 31, 2014 has been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2015 presentation.
	Investments in Distressed Loans
	Our investments in distressed loans represent non-performing loans classified as nonaccrual in accordance with ASC 310-10, “Receivable.” Interest income is not recognized on nonaccrual loans. When a loan is classified as nonaccrual, any subsequent cash receipt is accounted for using the cost recovery method.
	Investments in REO
	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the activity in REO (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Balance, beginning of period	$	69,799		$	72,972		$	66,934		$	79,267

	Additions	1,904			8,036			227			871

	Sales	(7,668		)	(4,192		)	(3,382		)	(3,384		)
	Impairments	(183		)	(2		)	(14		)	(2		)
	Depreciation	(172		)	(162		)	(85		)	(100		)
	Balance, end of period	$	63,680		$	76,652		$	63,680		$	76,652

	As of April 30, 2015, approximately $10.2 million and $53.5 million of REO was classified as held-for-sale and held-and-used, respectively. As of April 30, 2014, approximately $7.2 million and $69.5 million of REO was classified as held-for-sale and held-and-used, respectively. The table below provides, for the periods indicated, gains we recorded from the acquisitions of REO through foreclosure (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Gains from acquisition of REO through foreclosure	$	230		$	1,523		$	—		$	5

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Senior Notes Payable	Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility
	Loans Payable
	At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, loans payable consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,		October 31,
		2015		2014
	Senior unsecured term loan	$	500,000	$	500,000

	Loans payable - other	174,817		154,261

		$	674,817	$	654,261

	Senior Unsecured Term Loan
	On February 3, 2014, we entered into a five-year senior, $485.0 million, unsecured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) with a syndicate of banks. We borrowed the full amount of the Term Loan Facility on February 3, 2014. In October 2014, we increased the Term Loan Facility by $15.0 million and borrowed the full amount of the increase. At April 30, 2015, the interest rate on borrowings under the Term Loan Facility was 1.59% per annum.
	We and substantially all of our 100%-owned home building subsidiaries are guarantors under the Term Loan Facility. The Term Loan Facility contains substantially the same financial covenants as our Credit Facility, as described below. The Term Loan Facility will mature and amounts owing thereunder will become due and payable on February 3, 2019.
	Loans Payable - Other
	Our “Loans payable - other” represent purchase money mortgages on properties we acquired that the seller had financed and various revenue bonds that were issued by government entities on our behalf to finance community infrastructure and our manufacturing facilities. At April 30, 2015, the weighted-average interest rate on “Loans payable - other” was 4.20% per annum.
	Credit Facility
	On August 1, 2013, we entered into a $1.035 billion unsecured, five-year revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks (“Aggregate Credit Commitment”). The commitments under the Credit Facility are scheduled to expire on August 1, 2018. We are obligated to pay an undrawn commitment fee to the lenders under the Credit Facility which is based on the average daily unused amount of the Aggregate Credit Commitment and our leverage ratio. Any proceeds from borrowings under the Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes. We and substantially all of our 100%-owned home building subsidiaries are guarantors under the Credit Facility.
	Under the terms of the Credit Facility, our maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) may not exceed 1.75 to 1.00 and we are required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth (as defined in the credit agreement) of no less than approximately $2.57 billion. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, at April 30, 2015, our leverage ratio was approximately 0.70 to 1.00 and our tangible net worth was approximately $4.00 billion. Based upon the minimum tangible net worth requirement in the Credit Facility, our ability to repurchase our common stock was limited to approximately $1.89 billion as of April 30, 2015.
	At April 30, 2015, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility and had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $97.8 million. See “Subsequent Events” below.
	Senior Notes
	At April 30, 2015, we, through Toll Brothers Finance Corp, had eight issues of Senior Notes outstanding with an aggregate principal amount of $2.66 billion.
	In March 2014, we repaid the $268.0 million of the then outstanding principal amount of 4.95% Senior Notes due March 15, 2014.
	In November 2013, we issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.0% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “4.0% Senior Notes”) and $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “5.625% Senior Notes”). We received $596.2 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the 4.0% Senior Notes and the 5.625% Senior Notes.
	Subsequent Events
	In May 2015, we repaid, at maturity, the $300.0 million of outstanding 5.15% Senior Notes due May 15, 2015 using available cash and $250.0 million of borrowings under the Credit Facility.
	Mortgage Company Loan Facility
	In July 2014, TBI Mortgage® Company (“TBI Mortgage”), our wholly-owned mortgage subsidiary, amended its Master Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with Comerica Bank. The purpose of the Repurchase Agreement is to finance the origination of mortgage loans by TBI Mortgage, and the Repurchase Agreement is accounted for as a secured borrowing under ASC 860, “Transfers and Servicing.” The Repurchase Agreement, as amended, provides for loan purchases up to $50.0 million, subject to certain sublimits. In addition, the Repurchase Agreement provides for an accordion feature under which TBI Mortgage may request that the aggregate commitments under the Repurchase Agreement be increased to an amount up to $100.0 million for a short period of time. The Repurchase Agreement, as amended, expires on July 21, 2015 and borrowings thereunder bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, with a minimum rate of 2.00%. At April 30, 2015, the interest rate on the Repurchase Agreement was 2.18% per annum. At April 30, 2015, we had $70.1 million of outstanding borrowings under the Repurchase Agreement.

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	Accrued Expenses
	Accrued expenses at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land, land development and construction	$	107,041		$	124,816

	Compensation and employee benefits	125,306			118,607

	Self-insurance	108,575			100,407

	Warranty	83,057			86,282

	Interest	33,436			33,993

	Commitments to unconsolidated entities	4,919			3,293

	Other	124,077			114,079

		$	586,411		$	581,477

	Prior to the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we received stucco-related claims in certain completed communities located in Pennsylvania and Delaware, which are in our Mid-Atlantic region. During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the rate of claims increased. Through the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we believed that our warranty accruals, self-insurance accruals, and our liability insurance were adequate to cover our cost of repairs for those claims. The rate of claims continued to increase during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. In response, we undertook a comprehensive review of homes in completed communities built during fiscal 2003 through fiscal 2009 in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Our review revealed that additional stucco-related repairs will likely be needed in certain communities. As of October 31, 2014, we estimated our potential liability for known and unknown claims to be approximately $54.0 million, of which we expect to recover approximately 40% from our outside insurance carriers. In addition to previously recognized warranty and self-insurance accruals, we recognized a $25.0 million additional charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 for estimated repair costs. Our review included an analysis of the number of claims received, our inspection to-date of homes, an estimate of the number of homes we expect to repair and the extent of such repairs, and the amount of warranty and self-insurance reserves already recorded. We continue to review our potential liability for these claims and at April 30, 2015, we believe that our existing reserves and insurance were sufficient. We will continue to review and analyze these claims as they are submitted, and, due to the degree of judgment required and the potential for variability in our underlying assumptions, our actual future costs could differ from those estimated. The above charge was included in “Cost of revenues” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2014.
	We have received construction claims brought by three related multifamily community associations in the West region alleging issues with design and construction and damage to exterior common area elements. Our investigations of these matters are in the very early stages. We believe we have coverage under multiple owner controlled insurance policies with deductibles or self-insured retention requirements that vary from policy year to policy year. Our review of these matters is ongoing, and, due to the degree of judgment required, the potential for variability in our underlying assumptions, and the availability of insurance coverage, our actual future costs could differ from our estimates.

	We do not believe that any resolution of the above matters in excess of the amounts currently accrued would be material to our financial condition.
	We accrue for expected warranty costs at the time each home is closed and title and possession are transferred to the home buyer. Warranty costs are accrued based upon historical experience. The table below provides, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the changes in our warranty accrual (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Balance, beginning of period	$	86,282		$	43,819		$	84,695		$	42,688

	Additions - homes closed during the period	8,253			7,302			4,335			4,205

	Addition - Shapell liabilities acquired				9,244						9,244

	Increase in accruals for homes closed in prior years	1,309			1,421			441			1,077

	Charges incurred	(12,787		)	(9,207		)	(6,414		)	(4,635		)
	Balance, end of period	$	83,057		$	52,579		$	83,057		$	52,579

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Apr. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	We recorded an income tax provision of $61.3 million and $53.9 million for the six months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended April 30, 2015 was 29.1%, compared to 32.7% for the six months ended April 30, 2014. The income tax provisions for both periods included tax benefits related to the utilization of domestic production activities deductions and other permanent differences, offset by the provision for state income taxes and interest accrued on unrecognized tax benefits. The income tax provision for the six months ended April 30, 2015 also benefited from a $13.7 million reversal of a previously recognized tax provision related to a settlement with a taxing jurisdiction. The income tax provision for the six months ended April 30, 2014 also benefited from the reversal of a previously recognized tax provision related to the expiration of the statute of limitations and the settlement of a state income tax audit.
	We recorded an income tax provision of $18.6 million and $28.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended April 30, 2015 was 21.5%, compared to 30.2% for the three months ended April 30, 2014. The income tax provisions for both periods included tax benefits related to the utilization of domestic production activities deductions and other permanent differences, offset by the provision for state income taxes and interest accrued on unrecognized tax benefits. The income tax provision for three months ended April 30, 2015 also benefited from a $13.7 million reversal of a previously recognized tax provision related to a settlement with a taxing jurisdiction. The income tax provision for the three months ended April 30, 2014 also benefited from the reversal of a previously recognized tax provision related to the expiration of the statute of limitations and the settlement of a state income tax audit.
	We currently operate in 19 states and are subject to various state tax jurisdictions. We estimate our state tax liability based upon the individual taxing authorities’ regulations, estimates of income by taxing jurisdiction, and our ability to utilize certain tax-saving strategies. Based on our estimate of the allocation of income or loss among the various taxing jurisdictions and changes in tax regulations and their impact on our tax strategies, we estimate our rate for the full fiscal year for state income taxes at 6.7% and 7.2% for fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively.
	For state tax purposes, due to past and projected losses in certain jurisdictions where we do not have carryback potential and/or cannot sufficiently forecast future taxable income, we recognized net cumulative valuation allowances against our state deferred tax assets of $42.5 million and $43.8 million as of April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.
	At April 30, 2015, we had $45.6 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties. If these unrecognized tax benefits reverse in the future, they would have a beneficial impact on our effective tax rate at that time. During the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that our unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $10.8 million, primarily due to the expiration of certain statutes of limitations and potential settlements with taxing jurisdictions.

StockBased_Benefit_Plans

Stock-Based Benefit Plans	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Benefit Plans	Stock-Based Benefit Plans
	We grant stock options and various types of restricted stock units to our employees and our non-employee directors. Additionally, we have an employee stock purchase plan that allows employees to purchase our stock at a discount.
	Information regarding the amount of total stock-based compensation expense and tax benefit recognized by us, for the periods indicated, is as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Total stock-based compensation expense recognized	$	12,552	$	12,294	$	5,106	$	4,625

	Income tax benefit recognized	$	4,736	$	4,619	$	1,927	$	1,647

	At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, the aggregate unamortized value of outstanding stock-based compensation awards was approximately $34.8 million and $24.0 million, respectively.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income and Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The tables below provide, for the periods indicated, the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30, 2015
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,789	)	$	(2	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,838	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(754		)	3			(22		)	(773		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	432									432

	Income tax benefit (expense)	121			(1		)	8			128

	Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(201		)	2			(14		)	(213		)

	Balance, end of period	$	(2,990	)	$	—		$	(61	)	$	(3,051	)



		Six months ended April 30, 2014
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,112	)	$	(5	)	$	(270	)	$	(2,387	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(77		)	(29		)	365			259

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	328			(6		)				322

	Income tax (expense) benefit	(95		)	13			(142		)	(224		)

	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	156			(22		)	223			357

	Balance, end of period	$	(1,956	)	$	(27	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,030	)


		Three months ended April 30, 2015
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,967	)	$	—		$	(54	)	$	(3,021	)

	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(253		)				(11		)	(264		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	216									216

	Income tax benefit	14						4			18

	Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(23		)	—			(7		)	(30		)

	Balance, end of period	$	(2,990	)	$	—		$	(61	)	$	(3,051	)



		Three months ended April 30, 2014
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,059	)	$	(36	)	$	(29	)	$	(2,124	)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications							(28		)	(28		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	164			15						179

	Income tax (expense) benefit	(61		)	(6		)	10			(57		)

	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	103			9			(18		)	94

	Balance, end of period	$	(1,956	)	$	(27	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,030	)
	Reclassifications for the amortization of the employee retirement plans are included in “Selling, general and administrative” expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Reclassifications for the realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in “Other income - net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

Stock_Issuance_and_Stock_Repur

Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Stock Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program

	Stock Issuance

	In November 2013, in anticipation of the Acquisition, we issued 7.2 million shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $32.00 per share. We received $220.4 million of net proceeds from the issuance.
	Stock Repurchase Program
	In March 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20 million shares of our common stock in open market transactions or otherwise for the purpose of providing shares for our various employee benefit plans.
	On December 16, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 20 million shares of our common stock in open market transactions or otherwise for the purpose of providing shares for the Company’s equity award and other employee benefit plans and for any other additional purpose or purposes as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Additionally, our Board of Directors terminated, effective December 31, 2014, our March 2003 share repurchase program. The table below provides, for the periods indicated, information about our share repurchase programs:


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Number of shares purchased (in thousands)	211		5		10		3

	Average price per share	$	31.4	$	34.71	$	37.83	$	36.04

	Remaining authorization at April 30 (in thousands)	19,989		8,263		19,989		8,263

Income_Per_Share_Information

Income Per Share Information	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income per Share Information	Income per Share Information
	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, information pertaining to the calculation of income per share, common stock equivalents, weighted-average number of antidilutive options, and shares issued (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Numerator:
	Net income as reported	$	149,255	$	110,802	$	67,930	$	65,222

	Plus interest and costs attributable to 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes, net of income tax benefit	786		789		392		392

	Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$	150,041	$	111,591	$	68,322	$	65,614


	Denominator:
	Basic weighted-average shares	176,267		177,278		176,458		178,082

	Common stock equivalents (a)	2,347		2,529		2,522		2,502

	Shares attributable to 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes	5,858		5,858		5,858		5,858

	Diluted weighted-average shares	184,472		185,665		184,838		186,442


	Other information:
	Weighted-average number of antidilutive options and restricted stock units (b)	2,091		1,426		1,814		1,249

	Shares issued under stock incentive and employee stock purchase plans	1,265		1,225		588		212


	(a)	Common stock equivalents represent the dilutive effect of outstanding in-the-money stock options using the treasury stock method and shares expected to be issued under performance-based restricted stock units and nonperformance-based restricted stock units.

	(b)	Based upon the average closing price of our common stock on the NYSE for the period.

Fair_Value_Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures	6 Months Ended
Fair Value Disclosures	Apr. 30, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	Fair Value Disclosures
	Financial Instruments
	The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, a summary of assets (liabilities) related to our financial instruments, measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):


				Fair value
	Financial Instrument	Fair value		April 30,				October 31, 2014
	Financial Instrument	hierarchy		2015				October 31, 2014
	Marketable Securities	Level 2		$	10,015			$	12,026
	Marketable Securities	Level 2		$	10,015			$	12,026
	Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	80,864			$	101,944
	Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	80,864			$	101,944
	Forward Loan Commitments—Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	16			$	(341	)
		Level 2		$	16			$	(341	)
	Interest Rate Lock Commitments (“IRLCs”)	Level 2		$	(969	)		$	(108	)
	Forward Loan Commitments—IRLCs	Level 2		$	969			$	108
	Forward Loan Commitments—IRLCs	Level 2		$	969			$	108
	At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximated fair value.
	Marketable Securities
	The fair value of our marketable securities approximates the amortized cost basis as of April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014. The estimated fair values of marketable securities are based on quoted prices provided by brokers. The remaining contractual maturity of marketable securities as of April 30, 2015 was seven months.
	Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
	The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, the aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale (amounts in thousands):


		Aggregate unpaid				Fair value				Excess
		principal balance				Fair value				Excess
	At April 30, 2015	$	79,984			$	80,864			$	880
	At April 30, 2015	$	79,984			$	80,864			$	880
	At October 31, 2014	$	100,463			$	101,944			$	1,481
	At October 31, 2014	$	100,463			$	101,944			$	1,481
	At the end of the reporting period, we determine the fair value of our mortgage loans held for sale and the forward loan commitments we have entered into as a hedge against the interest rate risk of our mortgage loans using the market approach to determine fair value. The evaluation is based on the current market pricing of mortgage loans with similar terms and values as of the reporting date and by applying such pricing to the mortgage loan portfolio. We recognize the difference between the fair value and the unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans held for sale as a gain or loss. In addition, we recognize the fair value of our forward loan commitments as a gain or loss. These gains and losses are included in “Other income - net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Interest income on mortgage loans held for sale is calculated based upon the stated interest rate of each loan and is included in “Other income - net.”
	IRLCs represent individual borrower agreements that commit us to lend at a specified price for a specified period as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment contract. These commitments have varying degrees of interest rate risk. We utilize best efforts forward loan commitments (“Forward Commitments”) to hedge the interest rate risk of the IRLCs and residential mortgage loans held for sale. Forward Commitments represent contracts with third-party investors for the future delivery of loans whereby we agree to make delivery at a specified future date at a specified price. The IRLCs and Forward Commitments are considered derivative financial instruments under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” which requires derivative financial instruments to be recorded at fair value. We estimate the fair value of such commitments based on the estimated fair value of the underlying mortgage loan and, in the case of IRLCs, the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC. The fair values of IRLCs and forward loan commitments are included in either “Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets” or “Accrued expenses” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as appropriate. To manage the risk of non-performance of investors regarding the Forward Commitments, we assess the credit worthiness of the investors on a periodic basis.
	Inventory
	We recognize inventory impairment charges based on the difference in the carrying value of the inventory and its fair value at the time of the evaluation. The fair value of the aforementioned inventory was determined using Level 3 criteria. Estimated fair value is primarily determined by discounting the estimated future cash flow of each community. See Note 1, “Significant Accounting Policies – Inventory” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2014 for additional information regarding our methodology on determining fair value. As further discussed in Note 1 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2014, determining the fair value of a community’s inventory involves a number of variables, many of which are interrelated. If we used a different input for any of the various unobservable inputs used in our impairment analysis, the results of the analysis may have been different, absent any other changes. The table below summarizes, for the periods indicated, the ranges of certain quantitative unobservable inputs utilized in determining the fair value of impaired communities:


	Three months ended:	Selling price per unit		Sales pace per year		Discount rate
	Three months ended:	(in thousands)		(in units)		Discount rate
	Fiscal 2015:
	31-Jan	$289 - $680		7-Jan		13.5% - 16.0%
	30-Apr	$527 - $600		13 - 25		17.00%

	Fiscal 2014:
	31-Jan	$388 - $405		21 - 23		16.60%
	30-Apr	$634 - $760		7-Apr		12.0% - 15.3%
	31-Jul	$698 - $1,233		22-Oct		15.90%
	31-Oct	$337 - $902		23-Jul		12.5% - 16.5%
	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the fair value of operating communities whose carrying value was adjusted and the amount of impairment charges recognized ($ amounts in thousands):


				Impaired operating communities
	Three months ended:	Number of		Number of		Fair value of				Impairment charges
		communities tested		communities		communities,
						net of
						impairment charges
	Fiscal 2015:
	31-Jan	58		4		$	24,968			$	900
	31-Jan	58		4		$	24,968			$	900
	30-Apr	52		1		$	16,235			11,100
	30-Apr	52		1		$	16,235			11,100
										$	12,000
										$	12,000
	Fiscal 2014:
	31-Jan	67		1		$	7,131			$	1,300
	31-Jan	67		1		$	7,131			$	1,300
30-Apr	65		2		$	6,211			1,600
30-Apr	65		2		$	6,211			1,600
31-Jul	63		1		$	14,122			4,800
31-Jul	63		1		$	14,122			4,800
31-Oct	55		7		$	38,473			9,855
31-Oct	55		7		$	38,473			9,855
									$	17,555
									$	17,555
The impairment charge recorded in the three-month period ended April 30, 2015 related to one community located in the North geographic segment.
Debt
The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, the book value and estimated fair value of our debt (amounts in thousands):


			April 30, 2015								October 31, 2014
	Fair value		Book value				Estimated				Book value		Estimated
	hierarchy		Book value				fair value				Book value		fair value
Loans payable (a)	Level 2		$	674,817			$	674,649			$	654,261	$	652,944
Loans payable (a)	Level 2		$	674,817			$	674,649			$	654,261	$	652,944
Senior notes (b)	Level 1		2,657,376				2,852,929				2,657,376		2,821,559
Senior notes (b)	Level 1		2,657,376				2,852,929				2,657,376		2,821,559
Mortgage company loan facility (c)	Level 2		70,052				70,052				90,281		90,281
Mortgage company loan facility (c)	Level 2		70,052				70,052				90,281		90,281
			$	3,402,245			$	3,597,630			$	3,401,918	$	3,564,784
			$	3,402,245			$	3,597,630			$	3,401,918	$	3,564,784

(a)	The estimated fair value of loans payable was based upon contractual cash flows discounted at interest rates that we believed were available to us for loans with similar terms and remaining maturities as of the applicable valuation date.

(b)	The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based upon their market prices as of the applicable valuation date.

(c)	We believe that the carrying value of our mortgage company loan borrowings approximates their fair value.

Other_Income_Net

Other Income - Net	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Income - net	Other Income - Net
	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the components of other income - net (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Interest income	$	1,186		$	1,889		$	698		$	825

	Income from ancillary businesses	13,725			3,950			2,886			2,337

	Gibraltar	4,019			5,714			3,197			1,382

	Management fee income from unconsolidated entities	6,390			2,454			3,411			1,227

	Retained customer deposits	2,312			1,310			972			422

	Income from land sales	7,350			11,187			2,533			4,929

	Directly expensed interest				(656		)				(656		)

	Other	953			1,794			222			635

	Total other income - net	$	35,935		$	27,642		$	13,919		$	11,101

	In the six months ended April 30, 2015, our security monitoring business recognized an $8.1 million gain from a bulk sale of security monitoring accounts, which is included in income from ancillary businesses above. In the six-month period ended April 30, 2014, income from land sales includes $2.9 million of previously deferred gains on our initial sales of the properties to Trust II as further described in Note 4, “Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities.”
	Income from ancillary businesses include our mortgage, title, landscaping, security monitoring, and golf course and country club operations. The table below provides, for the periods indicated, revenues and expenses for our ancillary businesses (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Revenue	$	56,227		$	43,748		$	24,947		$	22,808

	Expense	$	42,502		$	39,798		$	22,061		$	20,471

	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, revenues and expenses recognized from land sales (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Revenue	$	126,746		$	98,152		$	22,725		$	87,124

	Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture	(9,260		)

	Expense	(110,136		)	(86,965		)	(20,192		)	(82,195		)
	Income from land sales	$	7,350		$	11,187		$	2,533		$	4,929

	Land sale revenues, for the six months ended April 30, 2015, include $78.5 million related to property sold to a Home Building Joint Venture in which we have a 25% interest. Due to our continued involvement in the joint venture through our ownership interest and guarantees provided on the joint venture’s debt, we deferred the $9.3 million gain realized on the sale. We will recognize the gain as units are sold to the ultimate home buyers. See Note 4, “Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities” for more information on this transaction.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Commitments and Contingencies
	Legal Proceedings
	We are involved in various claims and litigation arising principally in the ordinary course of business. We believe that adequate provision for resolution of all current claims and pending litigation has been made for probable losses. We believe that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity or on our financial condition.
	Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities
	At April 30, 2015, we had investments in and advances to a number of unconsolidated entities, were committed to invest or advance additional funds, and had guaranteed a portion of the indebtedness and/or loan commitments of these entities. See Note 4, “Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities,” for more information regarding our commitments to these entities.
	Land Purchase Commitments
	Generally, our purchase agreements to acquire land parcels do not require us to purchase those land parcels, although we, in some cases, forfeit any deposit balance outstanding if and when we terminate a purchase agreement. If market conditions are weak, approvals needed to develop the land are uncertain, or other factors exist that make the purchase undesirable, we may choose not to acquire the land. Whether a purchase agreement is legally terminated or not, we review the amount recorded for the land parcel subject to the purchase agreement to determine if the amount is recoverable. While we may not formally terminate the purchase agreements for those land parcels that we do not expect to acquire, we write off any non-refundable deposits and costs previously capitalized to such land parcels in the periods that we determine such costs are not recoverable.
	Information regarding our land purchase commitments, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		April 30, 2015		October 31, 2014
	Aggregate purchase commitments:
	Unrelated parties	$	882,723	$	1,043,654

	Unconsolidated entities that the Company has investments in	178,825		184,260

	Total	$	1,061,548	$	1,227,914

	Deposits against aggregate purchase commitments	$	71,126	$	103,422

	Additional cash required to acquire land	990,422		1,124,492

	Total	$	1,061,548	$	1,227,914

	Amount of additional cash required to acquire land in accrued expenses	$	1,120	$	764

	At April 30, 2015, we had a purchase commitment or understandings to acquire 536 home sites from three of our Land Development Joint Ventures for an aggregate purchase price of $178.8 million. In addition, we expect to purchase approximately 3,300 additional home sites from several joint ventures in which we have interests; the purchase prices of these home sites will be determined at a future date.
	At April 30, 2015, we also had purchase commitments to acquire land for apartment developments of approximately $29.9 million, of which we had outstanding deposits in the amount of $0.9 million.
	In November 2014, we closed on a 99-year ground lease on land located within New York City where we intend to develop a high-rise luxury cooperative-owned residential building. In August 2014, we paid $4.7 million representing two years of prepaid rent under the ground lease, which is included in “Deposits against aggregate purchase commitments” above. Under the terms of the ground lease, once final approvals are received, we will be required to make an additional payment of $17.5 million. This additional required payment is included in “Aggregate purchase commitments - Unrelated parties” above. As we deliver homes to our home buyers, the obligation under this lease will transfer to the building’s cooperative. We expect to deliver all homes by the end of our fiscal year 2018; therefore, we have included two years of additional rent payments totaling $4.7 million that we expect to pay which is also included in “Aggregate purchase commitments - Unrelated parties” above.
	We have additional land parcels under option that have been excluded from the aforementioned aggregate purchase amounts since we do not believe that we will complete the purchase of these land parcels and no additional funds will be required from us to terminate these contracts.
	Surety Bonds and Letters of Credit
	At April 30, 2015, we had outstanding surety bonds amounting to $610.5 million, primarily related to our obligations to governmental entities to construct improvements in our communities. We estimate that $389.1 million of work remains on these improvements. We have an additional $106.3 million of surety bonds outstanding that guarantee other obligations. We do not believe that it is probable that any outstanding bonds will be drawn upon.
	At April 30, 2015, we had outstanding letters of credit of $97.8 million under our Credit Facility. These letters of credit were issued to secure our various financial obligations including insurance policy deductibles and other claims, land deposits, and security to complete improvements in communities which we are operating. We do not believe that it is probable that any outstanding letters of credit will be drawn upon.
	Warranty and Self-Insurance
	See Note 7, “Accrued Expenses,” for additional information regarding our obligations related to warranty and self-insurance matters.
	Backlog
	At April 30, 2015, we had agreements of sale outstanding to deliver 4,387 homes with an aggregate sales value of $3.48 billion.
	Mortgage Commitments
	Our mortgage subsidiary provides mortgage financing for a portion of our home closings. For those home buyers to whom our mortgage subsidiary provides mortgages, we determine whether the home buyer qualifies for the mortgage based upon information provided by the home buyer and other sources. For those home buyers who qualify, our mortgage subsidiary provides the home buyer with a mortgage commitment that specifies the terms and conditions of a proposed mortgage loan based upon then-current market conditions. Prior to the actual closing of the home and funding of the mortgage, the home buyer will lock in an interest rate based upon the terms of the commitment. At the time of rate lock, our mortgage subsidiary agrees to sell the proposed mortgage loan to one of several outside recognized mortgage financing institutions (“investors”) that is willing to honor the terms and conditions, including interest rate, committed to the home buyer. We believe that these investors have adequate financial resources to honor their commitments to our mortgage subsidiary.
	Information regarding our mortgage commitments, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,		October 31, 2014
		2015
	Aggregate mortgage loan commitments:
	IRLCs	$	355,901	$	191,604

	Non-IRLCs	861,097		709,401

	Total	$	1,216,998	$	901,005

	Investor commitments to purchase:
	IRLCs	$	355,901	$	191,604

	Mortgage loans receivable	72,844		93,261

	Total	$	428,745	$	284,865

Information_on_Operating_Segme

Information on Operating Segments	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	Information on Operating Segments
	We operate in two reportable segments: traditional home building and urban infill. We build and sell homes in traditional home building markets consisting of detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities located in affluent suburban markets which cater to move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, age-qualified, and second-home buyers in the United States (“Traditional Home Building”). We also build and sell homes in urban infill markets through Toll Brothers City Living® (“City Living”).
	We have determined that our Traditional Home Building operations operate in four geographic segments: North, Mid-Atlantic, South, and West. The states comprising each geographic segment are as follows:
	North: Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York
	Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
	South: Florida, North Carolina, and Texas
	West: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington
	Revenue and income (loss) before income taxes for each of our reportable and geographic segments, for the periods indicated, were as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,								Three months ended April 30,
		2015				2014				2015				2014
	Revenues:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	282,454			$	264,885			$	150,018			$	137,241

	Mid-Atlantic	350,891				349,571				187,503				180,475

	South	377,784				336,688				215,917				186,129

	West	570,409				507,835				282,467				321,609

	Traditional Home Building	1,581,538				1,458,979				835,905				825,454

	City Living	124,497				45,076				16,678				34,920

	Total	$	1,706,035			$	1,504,055			$	852,583			$	860,374


	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	13,431			$	17,152			$	2,864			$	8,806

	Mid-Atlantic	40,819				45,909				22,095				24,358

	South	62,600				40,952				39,276				23,584

	West	91,619				78,714				46,270				44,844

	Traditional Home Building	208,469				182,727				110,505				101,592

	City Living	58,005				8,964				6,660				10,022

	Corporate and other	(55,919		)		(26,972		)		(30,633		)		(18,130		)
	Total	$	210,555			$	164,719			$	86,532			$	93,484

	“Corporate and other” is comprised principally of general corporate expenses such as the offices of our executive officers; the corporate finance, accounting, audit, tax, human resources, risk management, information technology, marketing, and legal groups; interest income; income from certain of our ancillary businesses, including Gibraltar; and income from a number of our unconsolidated entities.
	Total assets for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands).


		April 30,				October 31,
		2015				2014
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	1,063,041			$	1,053,787

	Mid-Atlantic	1,272,448				1,267,563

	South	1,246,795				1,165,600

	West	2,821,400				2,676,164

	Traditional Home Building	6,403,684				6,163,114

	City Living	873,725				834,949

Corporate and other	1,310,272				1,418,839

Total	$	8,587,681			$	8,416,902

“Corporate and other” is comprised principally of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, restricted cash, deferred tax assets, the assets of our Gibraltar investments, manufacturing facilities, and our mortgage subsidiary.
Inventory for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, is shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


	Land controlled for future communities				Land owned for future communities				Operating communities				Total
Balances at April 30, 2015:
Traditional Home Building:
North	$	11,749			$	167,766			$	851,577			$	1,031,092

Mid-Atlantic	27,536				246,580				959,620				1,233,736

South	3,614				225,363				841,185				1,070,162

West	15,147				1,138,539				1,582,696				2,736,382

Traditional Home Building	58,046				1,778,248				4,235,078				6,071,372

City Living	939				451,270				200,762				652,971

	$	58,985			$	2,229,518			$	4,435,840			$	6,724,343


Balances at October 31, 2014:
Traditional Home Building:
North	$	12,007			$	171,780			$	834,266			$	1,018,053

Mid-Atlantic	29,169				209,506				994,859				1,233,534

South	10,971				219,904				793,835				1,024,710

West	22,122				1,391,028				1,177,820				2,590,970

Traditional Home Building	74,269				1,992,218				3,800,780				5,867,267

City Living	48,264				363,656				211,134				623,054

	$	122,533			$	2,355,874			$	4,011,914			$	6,490,321

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,				October 31,
		2015				2014
Traditional Home Building:
Mid-Atlantic		$	11,929			$	11,841

South		101,541				98,362

West		58,575				59,573

Traditional Home Building		172,045				169,776

City Living		177,311				159,953

Corporate and other		117,903				117,349

Total		$	467,259			$	447,078

“Corporate and other” is comprised of our investments in the Rental Property Joint Ventures (including the Trust and Trust II) and the Structured Asset Joint Venture. In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, a Rental Property Joint Venture that was previously included in the Mid-Atlantic geographic segment was reclassified to “Corporate and other.” Our investment balance in this joint venture at October 31, 2014 of $12.4 million was reclassified in the table above to conform to the fiscal 2015 presentation.

Supplemental_Disclosure_to_Con

Supplemental Disclosure to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Supplemental Disclosure to Statements of Cash Flows	Supplemental Disclosure to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	The following are supplemental disclosures to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,
		2015			2014
	Cash flow information:
	Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$	8,034

	Interest capitalized, net of amount paid				$	3,798

	Income tax payments	$	140,867		$	30,968

	Income tax refunds	$	165

	Noncash activity:
	Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	$	45,732		$	71,662

	Reduction in inventory for our share of joint venture earnings in land purchased from unconsolidated entities and allocation of basis difference	$	2,346		$	1,229

	Defined benefit plan amendment	$	754		$	77

	Increase in accrued expenses related to Stock Price-Based Restricted Stock Units paid				$	4,972

	Transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities				$	700

	Transfer of other assets to investment in unconsolidated entities	$	4,824

	Unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives held by equity investees	$	(22	)	$	365

	Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	$	1,577		$	428

	Miscellaneous decreases to investments in unconsolidated entities	$	(1,403	)	$	(965	)
	Acquisition of a Business:
	Fair value of assets purchased, excluding cash acquired				$	1,520,664

	Liabilities assumed				$	31,548

	Cash paid, net of cash acquired				$	1,489,116

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa

Supplemental Guarantor Information	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Guarantor Information [Text Block]	Supplemental Guarantor Information
	Our 100%-owned subsidiary, Toll Brothers Finance Corp. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), has issued the following Senior Notes (amounts in thousands):


			Original amount issued and amount outstanding at
			April 30, 2015
	5.15% Senior Notes due 2015		$	300,000

	8.91% Senior Notes due 2017		$	400,000

	4.0% Senior Notes due 2018		$	350,000

	6.75% Senior Notes due 2019		$	250,000

	5.875% Senior Notes due 2022		$	419,876

	4.375% Senior Notes due 2023		$	400,000

	5.625% Senior Notes due 2024		$	250,000

	0.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2032		$	287,500

	The obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer to pay principal, premiums, if any, and interest are guaranteed jointly and severally on a senior basis by us and substantially all of our 100%-owned home building subsidiaries (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The guarantees are full and unconditional. Our non-home building subsidiaries and several of our home building subsidiaries (together, the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) do not guarantee the debt. The Subsidiary Issuer generates no operating revenues and does not have any independent operations other than the financing of our other subsidiaries by lending the proceeds from the above-described debt issuances. The indentures under which the Senior Notes were issued provide that any of our subsidiaries that provide a guarantee of the Credit Facility will guarantee the Senior Notes. The indentures further provide that any Guarantor Subsidiary may be released from its guarantee so long as (i) no default or event of default exists or would result from release of such guarantee; (ii) the Guarantor Subsidiary being released has consolidated net worth of less than 5% of the Company’s consolidated net worth as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter; (iii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries released from their guarantees in any fiscal year comprise in the aggregate less than 10% (or 15% if and to the extent necessary to permit the cure of a default) of our consolidated net worth as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter; (iv) such release would not have a material adverse effect on our and our subsidiaries’ home building business; and (v) the Guarantor Subsidiary is released from its guaranty under the Credit Facility. If there are no guarantors under the Credit Facility, all Guarantor Subsidiaries under the indentures will be released from their guarantees.
	Separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented because management has determined that such disclosures would not be material to investors.
	Supplemental consolidating financial information of Toll Brothers, Inc., the Subsidiary Issuer, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries and the eliminations to arrive at Toll Brothers, Inc. on a consolidated basis is presented below ($ amounts in thousands).
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at April 30, 2015:


		Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
		Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
		Inc.
	ASSETS
	Cash and cash equivalents	—			—		389,236		142,921		—			532,157

	Marketable securities								10,015					10,015

	Restricted cash	15,206					1,297		1,459					17,962

	Inventory						6,417,066		307,277					6,724,343

	Property, construction and office equipment, net						123,887		17,256					141,143

	Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	56			15,029		156,260		118,588		(30,975	)		258,958

	Mortgage loans held for sale								80,864					80,864

	Customer deposits held in escrow						42,241		2,158					44,399

	Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities						125,691		341,568					467,259

	Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								65,938					65,938

	Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	3,824,138			2,681,738		4,740				(6,510,616	)		—

	Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	244,643												244,643

		4,084,043			2,696,767		7,260,418		1,088,044		(6,541,591	)		8,587,681

	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Liabilities
	Loans payable						674,817							674,817

	Senior notes				2,631,124						24,674			2,655,798

Mortgage company loan facility								70,052					70,052

Customer deposits						266,530		8,817					275,347

Accounts payable						233,509		166					233,675

Accrued expenses				31,906		377,933		209,217		(32,645	)		586,411

Advances from consolidated entities						1,946,002		751,619		(2,697,621	)		—

Income taxes payable	37,641												37,641

Total liabilities	37,641			2,663,030		3,498,791		1,039,871		(2,705,592	)		4,533,741

Equity
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock	1,779					48		3,006		(3,054	)		1,779

Additional paid-in capital	722,303			49,400				1,734		(51,134	)		722,303

Retained earnings (deficits)	3,381,290			(15,663	)	3,761,640		35,834		(3,781,811	)		3,381,290

Treasury stock, at cost	(55,980	)											(55,980	)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,990	)				(61	)						(3,051	)

Total stockholders’ equity	4,046,402			33,737		3,761,627		40,574		(3,835,999	)		4,046,341

Noncontrolling interest								7,599					7,599

Total equity	4,046,402			33,737		3,761,627		48,173		(3,835,999	)		4,053,940

	4,084,043			2,696,767		7,260,418		1,088,044		(6,541,591	)		8,587,681

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at October 31, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	—			—		455,714		130,601		—			586,315

Marketable securities						1,997		10,029					12,026

Restricted cash	15,211					2,070		1,061					18,342

Inventory						6,260,303		230,018					6,490,321

Property, construction and office equipment, net						126,586		16,424					143,010

Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets				16,802		114,863		137,496		(17,589	)		251,572

Mortgage loans held for sale								101,944					101,944

Customer deposits held in escrow						39,912		2,161					42,073

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities						132,096		314,982					447,078

Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								73,800					73,800

Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	3,714,788			2,677,448		4,740				(6,396,976	)		—

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	250,421												250,421

	3,980,420			2,694,250		7,138,281		1,018,516		(6,414,565	)		8,416,902

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Loans payable						653,269		992					654,261

Senior notes				2,625,712						29,332			2,655,044

Mortgage company loan facility								90,281					90,281

Customer deposits						221,084		2,715					223,799

Accounts payable						225,106		241					225,347

Accrued expenses				31,906		386,223		181,649		(18,301	)		581,477

Advances from consolidated entities						2,018,981		708,167		(2,727,148	)		—

Income taxes payable	125,996												125,996

Total liabilities	125,996			2,657,618		3,504,663		984,045		(2,716,117	)		4,556,205

Equity
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock	1,779					48		3,006		(3,054	)		1,779

Additional paid-in capital	712,162			49,400				1,734		(51,134	)		712,162

Retained earnings (deficits)	3,232,035			(12,768	)	3,633,618		23,410		(3,644,260	)		3,232,035

Treasury stock, at cost	(88,762	)											(88,762	)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,790	)				(48	)						(2,838	)

Total stockholders’ equity	3,854,424			36,632		3,633,618		28,150		(3,698,448	)		3,854,376

Noncontrolling interest								6,321					6,321

Total equity	3,854,424			36,632		3,633,618		34,471		(3,698,448	)		3,860,697

	3,980,420			2,694,250		7,138,281		1,018,516		(6,414,565	)		8,416,902





Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the six months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Revenues						1,724,050		33,152		(51,167	)		1,706,035

Cost of revenues						1,332,727		3,095		(7,278	)		1,328,544

Selling, general and administrative	37			1,822		226,194		27,090		(41,144	)		213,999

	37			1,822		1,558,921		30,185		(48,422	)		1,542,543

Income (loss) from operations	(37	)		(1,822	)	165,129		2,967		(2,745	)		163,492

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities						7,434		3,694					11,128

Other income - net	4,670					18,033		13,588		(356	)		35,935

Intercompany interest income				72,393						(72,393	)		—

Interest expense				(75,228	)			(266	)	75,494			—

Income from subsidiaries	205,922					15,326				(221,248	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	210,555			(4,657	)	205,922		19,983		(221,248	)		210,555

Income tax provision (benefit)	61,300			(1,762	)	77,900		7,559		(83,697	)		61,300

Net income (loss)	149,255			(2,895	)	128,022		12,424		(137,551	)		149,255

Other comprehensive loss	(201	)				(12	)						(213	)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	149,054			(2,895	)	128,010		12,424		(137,551	)		149,042


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the six months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Revenues						1,520,077		33,267		(49,289	)		1,504,055

Cost of revenues						1,206,293		4,059		(8,322	)		1,202,030

Selling, general and administrative	69			1,865		213,647		26,436		(39,827	)		202,190

	69			1,865		1,419,940		30,495		(48,149	)		1,404,220

Income (loss) from operations	(69	)		(1,865	)	100,137		2,772		(1,140	)		99,835

Other:
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities						37,578		(336	)				37,242

Other income - net	4,660					17,815		7,208		(2,041	)		27,642

Intercompany interest income				76,107						(76,107	)		—

Interest expense				(78,899	)			(389	)	79,288			—

Income from subsidiaries	160,128					4,598				(164,726	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	164,719			(4,657	)	160,128		9,255		(164,726	)		164,719

Income tax provision (benefit)	53,917			(1,751	)	60,224		3,481		(61,954	)		53,917

Net income (loss)	110,802			(2,906	)	99,904		5,774		(102,772	)		110,802

Other comprehensive income	156					189		12					357

Total comprehensive income (loss)	110,958			(2,906	)	100,093		5,786		(102,772	)		111,159


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Non-		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Guarantor
	Inc.							Subsidiaries
Revenues						861,896		17,550		(26,863	)		852,583

Cost of revenues						680,515		1,429		(3,432	)		678,512

Selling, general and administrative	23			914		114,151		13,701		(21,104	)		107,685

	23			914		794,666		15,130		(24,536	)		786,197

Income (loss) from operations	(23	)		(914	)	67,230		2,420		(2,327	)		66,386

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities						2,712		3,515					6,227

Other income - net	2,300					7,800		3,003		816			13,919

Intercompany interest income				36,200						(36,200	)		—

Interest expense				(37,576	)			(135	)	37,711			—

Income from subsidiaries	84,255					6,513				(90,768	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	86,532			(2,290	)	84,255		8,803		(90,768	)		86,532

Income tax provision (benefit)	18,602			(871	)	32,093		3,349		(34,571	)		18,602

Net income (loss)	67,930			(1,419	)	52,162		5,454		(56,197	)		67,930

Other comprehensive loss	(23	)				(7	)						(30	)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	67,907			(1,419	)	52,155		5,454		(56,197	)		67,900


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Non-		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Guarantor
	Inc.							Subsidiaries
Revenues						869,305		17,665		(26,596	)		860,374

Cost of revenues						690,656		1,457		(4,115	)		687,998

Selling, general and administrative	14			928		110,947		12,799		(20,368	)		104,320

	14			928		801,603		14,256		(24,483	)		792,318

Income (loss) from operations	(14	)		(928	)	67,702		3,409		(2,113	)		68,056

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities						13,371		956					14,327

Other income - net	2,295					7,243		1,008		555			11,101

Intercompany interest income				37,963						(37,963	)		—

Interest expense				(39,325	)			(196	)	39,521			—

Income from subsidiaries	91,203					2,887				(94,090	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	93,484			(2,290	)	91,203		5,177		(94,090	)		93,484

Income tax provision (benefit)	28,262			(823	)	33,212		1,883		(34,272	)		28,262

Net income (loss)	65,222			(1,467	)	57,991		3,294		(59,818	)		65,222

Other comprehensive income (loss)	103					(11	)	2					94

Total comprehensive income (loss)	65,325			(1,467	)	57,980		3,296		(59,818	)		65,316


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(48,714	)		4,290		15,173		(2,631	)	(6,060	)		(37,942	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net						(5,037	)	(847	)				(5,884	)

Sale and redemption of marketable securities						2,000							2,000

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities						(2,253	)	(25,452	)				(27,705	)

Return of investments in unconsolidated entities						5,797		4,840					10,637

Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								(1,697	)				(1,697	)

Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								14,592					14,592

Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest						3,848							3,848

Intercompany advances	18,228			(4,290	)					(13,938	)		—

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	18,228			(4,290	)	4,355		(8,564	)	(13,938	)		(4,209	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable								529,053					529,053

Principal payments of loans payable						(22,556	)	(550,282	)				(572,838	)

Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	34,057												34,057

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	3,045												3,045

Purchase of treasury stock	(6,616	)											(6,616	)

Receipts related to noncontrolling interest								1,292					1,292

Intercompany advances						(63,450	)	43,452		19,998			—

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	30,486			—		(86,006	)	23,515		19,998			(12,007	)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	—			—		(66,478	)	12,320		—			(54,158	)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	—			—		455,714		130,601		—			586,315

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	—			—		389,236		142,921		—			532,157

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary		Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer		Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	44,258			15,152		(87,965	)	(27,401	)	(10,229	)		(66,185	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment — net						(5,718	)	(49	)				(5,767	)

Sale and redemption of marketable securities						39,243							39,243

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities						(13,602	)	(67,052	)				(80,654	)

Return of investments in unconsolidated entities						35,714		3,300					39,014

Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								(757	)				(757	)

Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate								22,424					22,424

Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired						(1,489,116	)						(1,489,116	)

Dividend received - intercompany						15,000				(15,000	)		—

Intercompany advances	(289,604	)		(342,492	)					632,096			—

Net cash used in investing activities	(289,604	)		(342,492	)	(1,418,479	)	(42,134	)	617,096			(1,475,613	)

Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				600,000									600,000

Debt issuance costs for senior notes				(4,700	)								(4,700	)

Proceeds from loans payable						1,141,300		456,262					1,597,562

Debt issuance costs for loans payable						(3,005	)						(3,005	)

Principal payments of loans payable						(572,257	)	(474,420	)				(1,046,677	)

Redemption of senior notes				(267,960	)								(267,960	)

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	220,357												220,357

Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	23,333												23,333

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,841												1,841

Purchase of treasury stock	(185	)											(185	)

Receipts related to noncontrolling interest								81					81

Dividend paid - intercompany								(15,000	)	15,000			—

Intercompany advances						505,993		115,874		(621,867	)		—

Net cash provided by financing activities	245,346			327,340		1,072,031		82,797		(606,867	)		1,120,647

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	—			—		(434,413	)	13,262		—			(421,151	)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	—			—		670,102		102,870		—			772,972

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	—			—		235,689		116,132		—			351,821

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Apr. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation Policy [Text Block]	Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation Policy [Text Block]	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Toll Brothers, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Delaware corporation, and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Investments in 50% or less owned partnerships and affiliates are accounted for using the equity method unless it is determined that we have effective control of the entity, in which case we would consolidate the entity.
Consolidation Policy	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. The October 31, 2014 balance sheet amounts and disclosures included herein have been derived from our October 31, 2014 audited financial statements. Since the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements, we suggest that they be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position as of April 30, 2015, the results of our operations for the six-month and three-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, and our cash flows for the six-month periods ended April 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 is intended to eliminate inconsistent practices regarding the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from the disallowance of a tax position. We adopted ASU 2013-11 on November 1, 2014 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In April 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04, “Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-04”), which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date. We adopted ASU 2013-04 on November 1, 2014 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”), which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2016. Upon adoption, we must apply the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 is not expected to have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
	In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810) - Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”), which eliminates the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entities (“VIEs”) guidance and makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation guidance. The new guidance applies to all entities involved with limited partnerships or similar entities and will require re-evaluation of these entities under the revised guidance which may change previous consolidation conclusions. ASU 2015-02 is effective for us beginning February 1, 2016, and, at that time, we may adopt the new standard retrospectively or use a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts.” The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2017, and, at that time, we may adopt the new standard under the full retrospective approach or the modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
	In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04, “Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors” (“ASU 2014-04”), which clarifies when an in substance repossession or foreclosure of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan has occurred. By doing so, this guidance helps determine when the creditor should derecognize the loan receivable and recognize the real estate property. ASU 2014-04 is effective prospectively for us beginning November 1, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2014-04 is not expected to have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventory	Inventory at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land controlled for future communities	$	58,985		$	122,533

	Land owned for future communities	2,229,518			2,355,874

	Operating communities	4,435,840			4,011,914

		$	6,724,343		$	6,490,321

Temporarily Closed communities	Information regarding the classification, number, and carrying value of these temporarily closed communities, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below.


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land owned for future communities:
	Number of communities	18			16

	Carrying value (in thousands)	$	156,267		$	122,015

	Operating communities:
	Number of communities	8			9

	Carrying value (in thousands)	$	23,025		$	42,092

Inventory impairment charges and expensing of costs that it is believed not to be recoverable	The amounts we have provided for inventory impairment charges and the expensing of costs that we believed not to be recoverable, for the periods indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Land controlled for future communities	$	610		$	1,006		$	366		$	324

	Land owned for future communities	700						700

	Operating communities	12,000			2,900			11,100			1,600

		$	13,310		$	3,906		$	12,166		$	1,924

Interest incurred, capitalized and expensed	Interest incurred, capitalized, and expensed, for the periods indicated, was as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Interest capitalized, beginning of period	$	356,180		$	343,077		$	364,228		$	356,618

	Interest incurred	80,458			82,628			39,954			42,684

	Interest expensed to cost of revenues	(57,953		)	(54,585		)	(29,576		)	(29,145		)
	Write-off against other income	(1,738		)	(1,039		)	(410		)	(722		)
	Interest capitalized on investments in unconsolidated entities	(4,825		)	(4,757		)	(2,074		)	(2,300		)
	Previously capitalized interest on investments in unconsolidated entities transferred to inventory	772			1,811			772

	Interest capitalized, end of period	$	372,894		$	367,135		$	372,894		$	367,135

Investments_in_and_Advances_to1

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]
Summary of Joint Venture Information [Table Text Block]	The table below provides information, as of April 30, 2015, regarding active joint ventures that we are invested in, by joint venture category ($ amounts in thousands):


		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
		Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
	Number of investments in unconsolidated entities	7			4				10				1				22
	Investment in unconsolidated entities	$	144,103		$	205,253			$	100,939			$	16,964			$	467,259

	Number of unconsolidated entities with funding commitments by the Company	4			2				4				—				10

	Company's remaining funding commitment to unconsolidated entities	$	31,180		$	29,887			$	19,807			$	—			$	80,874

Summary of Joint Ventures Borrowing information [Table Text Block]	Certain joint ventures in which we have investments obtained debt financing to finance a portion of their activities. The table below provides information at April 30, 2015 regarding the debt financing obtained by category ($ amounts in thousands):


		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures
		Joint Ventures
	Number of joint ventures with debt financing	3			2				8				13
	Aggregate loan commitments	$	175,000		$	222,000			$	734,685			$	1,131,685

	Amounts borrowed under commitments	$	111,506		$	78,906			$	431,584			$	621,996

Condensed balance sheet aggregated by type of business	Condensed Balance Sheets:


		April 30, 2015
		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
		Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	29,519		$	13,378			$	32,607			$	13,347			$	88,851

	Inventory	245,998			627,461												873,459

	Non-performing loan portfolio												41,522				41,522

	Rental properties								245,087								245,087

	Rental properties under development								330,394								330,394

	Real estate owned (“REO”)												162,843				162,843

	Other assets (1)	55,346			69,551				12,773				77,990				215,660

	Total assets	$	330,863		$	710,390			$	620,861			$	295,702			$	1,957,816

	Debt (1)	$	112,620		$	86,186			$	431,584			$	77,950			$	708,340

	Other liabilities	31,308			56,870				29,922				5				118,105

	Members’ equity	186,935			567,334				159,355				87,111				1,000,735

	Noncontrolling interest												130,636				130,636

	Total liabilities and equity	$	330,863		$	710,390			$	620,861			$	295,702			$	1,957,816

	Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)	$	144,103		$	205,253			$	100,939			$	16,964			$	467,259




		October 31, 2014
		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
		Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	31,968		$	21,821			$	33,040			$	23,462			$	110,291

	Inventory	258,092			465,144												723,236

	Non-performing loan portfolio												57,641				57,641

	Rental properties								140,238								140,238

	Rental properties under development								327,315								327,315

	Real estate owned (“REO”)												184,753				184,753

	Other assets (1)	30,166			75,164				14,333				77,986				197,649

	Total assets	$	320,226		$	562,129			$	514,926			$	343,842			$	1,741,123

	Debt (1)	$	102,042		$	8,713			$	333,128			$	77,950			$	521,833

	Other liabilities	23,854			56,665				43,088				177				123,784

	Members’ equity	194,330			496,751				138,710				106,298				936,089

Noncontrolling interest												159,417				159,417

Total liabilities and equity	$	320,226		$	562,129			$	514,926			$	343,842			$	1,741,123

Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)	$	140,221		$	189,509			$	97,353			$	19,995			$	447,078



-1	Included in other assets of the Structured Asset Joint Venture at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 is $78.0 million of restricted cash held in a defeasance account which will be used to repay debt of the Structured Asset Joint Venture.

-2	Differences between our net investment in unconsolidated entities and our underlying equity in the net assets of the entities are primarily a result of the acquisition price of an investment in a land development joint venture in fiscal 2012 that was in excess of our pro-rata share of the underlying equity; impairments related to our investment in unconsolidated entities; a loan made to one of the entities by us; interest capitalized on our investment; the estimated fair value of the guarantees provided to the joint ventures; and distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of our net investment.
Condensed statements of operations aggregate by type of business	Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income:


		For the six months ended April 30, 2015
		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
		Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
	Revenues	$	31,759		$	36,259			$	15,327			$	2,961			$	86,306

	Cost of revenues	16,116			31,358				7,227				8,848				63,549

	Other expenses	533			2,876				8,698				592				12,699

	Total expenses	16,649			34,234				15,925				9,440				76,248

	Gain on disposition of loans and REO												23,586				23,586

	Income (loss) from operations	15,110			2,025				(598		)		17,107				33,644

	Other income	11			341								1,355				1,707

	Net income (loss)	15,121			2,366				(598		)		18,462				35,351

	Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest												(11,077		)		(11,077		)

	Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	15,121			2,366				(598		)		7,385				24,274

	Other comprehensive loss								(45		)						(45		)

	Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	15,121		$	2,366			$	(643	)		$	7,385			$	24,229

	Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	5,381		$	1,458			$	2,815			$	1,474			$	11,128




		For the six months ended April 30, 2014
		Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
		Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
		Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
	Revenues	$	111,950		$	23,228			$	17,006			$	3,789			$	155,973

	Cost of revenues	62,170			21,825				7,390				6,482				97,867

	Other expenses	465			2,047				21,558				874				24,944

	Total expenses	62,635			23,872				28,948				7,356				122,811

	Gain on disposition of loans and REO												6,458				6,458

	Income (loss) from operations	49,315			(644		)		(11,942		)		2,891				39,620

	Other income	5			201				43,199				1,533				44,938

	Net income (loss)	49,320			(443		)		31,257				4,424				84,558

	Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest												(2,654		)		(2,654		)

	Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	49,320			(443		)		31,257				1,770				81,904

	Other comprehensive income								729								729

	Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	49,320		$	(443	)		$	31,986			$	1,770			$	82,633

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	103		$	327			$	36,622			$	190			$	37,242




	For the three months ended April 30, 2015
	Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
	Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
	Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
Revenues	$	13,484		$	16,965			$	7,716			$	2,072			$	40,237

Cost of revenues	6,486			14,445				3,958				2,773				27,662

Other expenses	299			1,301				4,309				266				6,175

Total expenses	6,785			15,746				8,267				3,039				33,837

Gain on disposition of loans and REO												15,955				15,955

Income (loss) from operations	6,699			1,219				(551		)		14,988				22,355

Other income	11			268								768				1,047

Net income (loss)	6,710			1,487				(551		)		15,756				23,402

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest												(9,454		)		(9,454		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	6,710			1,487				(551		)		6,302				13,948

Other comprehensive loss								(23		)						(23		)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	6,710		$	1,487			$	(574	)		$	6,302			$	13,925

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	2,939		$	916			$	1,114			$	1,258			$	6,227




	For the three months ended April 30, 2014
	Land			Home Building				Rental Property				Structured				Total
	Development			Joint Ventures				Joint Ventures				Asset
	Joint Ventures											Joint Venture
Revenues	$	110,406		$	11,647			$	7,557			$	3,505			$	133,115

Cost of revenues	61,488			11,451				3,419				4,132				80,490

Other expenses	210			1,047				9,504				415				11,176

Total expenses	61,698			12,498				12,923				4,547				91,666

Gain on disposition of loans and REO												2,551				2,551

Income (loss) from operations	48,708			(851		)		(5,366		)		1,509				44,000

Other income	4			162				342				1,409				1,917

Net income (loss)	48,712			(689		)		(5,024		)		2,918				45,917

Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest												(1,751		)		(1,751		)

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	48,712			(689		)		(5,024		)		1,167				44,166

Other comprehensive loss								(56		)						(56		)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	48,712		$	(689	)		$	(5,080	)		$	1,167			$	44,110

Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)	$	135		$	145			$	12,872			$	1,175			$	14,327



-3	Differences between our equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and the underlying net income (loss) of the entities are primarily a result of a basis difference of an acquired joint venture interest, distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of our net investment, and our share of the entities’ profits related to home sites purchased by us which reduces our cost basis of the home sites acquired.

Investments_in_Distressed_Loan1

Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Investments in Non-Performing Loan Portfolios and Foreclosed Real Estate [Abstract]
Schedule of Investment in Distressed Loans and Real Estate Owned [Table Text Block]	Investments in distressed loans and REO consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Investment in distressed loans	$	2,258		$	4,001

	Investment in REO	63,680			69,799

		$	65,938		$	73,800

Schedule of Changes in Real Estate Owned [Table Text Block]

		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Balance, beginning of period	$	69,799		$	72,972		$	66,934		$	79,267

	Additions	1,904			8,036			227			871

	Sales	(7,668		)	(4,192		)	(3,382		)	(3,384		)
	Impairments	(183		)	(2		)	(14		)	(2		)
	Depreciation	(172		)	(162		)	(85		)	(100		)
	Balance, end of period	$	63,680		$	76,652		$	63,680		$	76,652

Gains recorded from the acquisitions of REO through foreclosure [Table Text Block]	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, gains we recorded from the acquisitions of REO through foreclosure (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Gains from acquisition of REO through foreclosure	$	230		$	1,523		$	—		$	5

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and1

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Loans Payable (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Debt [Text Block]	At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, loans payable consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,		October 31,
		2015		2014
	Senior unsecured term loan	$	500,000	$	500,000

	Loans payable - other	174,817		154,261

		$	674,817	$	654,261

Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued expenses	Accrued expenses at April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Land, land development and construction	$	107,041		$	124,816

	Compensation and employee benefits	125,306			118,607

	Self-insurance	108,575			100,407

	Warranty	83,057			86,282

	Interest	33,436			33,993

	Commitments to unconsolidated entities	4,919			3,293

	Other	124,077			114,079

		$	586,411		$	581,477

Changes in the warranty accrual	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the changes in our warranty accrual (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Balance, beginning of period	$	86,282		$	43,819		$	84,695		$	42,688

	Additions - homes closed during the period	8,253			7,302			4,335			4,205

	Addition - Shapell liabilities acquired				9,244						9,244

	Increase in accruals for homes closed in prior years	1,309			1,421			441			1,077

	Charges incurred	(12,787		)	(9,207		)	(6,414		)	(4,635		)
	Balance, end of period	$	83,057		$	52,579		$	83,057		$	52,579

StockBased_Benefit_Plans_Table

Stock-Based Benefit Plans (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense and income tax benefit recognized	Information regarding the amount of total stock-based compensation expense and tax benefit recognized by us, for the periods indicated, is as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Total stock-based compensation expense recognized	$	12,552	$	12,294	$	5,106	$	4,625

	Income tax benefit recognized	$	4,736	$	4,619	$	1,927	$	1,647

Accumulated_Other_Comprensive_

Accumulated Other Comprensive Loss (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The tables below provide, for the periods indicated, the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30, 2015
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,789	)	$	(2	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,838	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(754		)	3			(22		)	(773		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	432									432

	Income tax benefit (expense)	121			(1		)	8			128

	Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(201		)	2			(14		)	(213		)

	Balance, end of period	$	(2,990	)	$	—		$	(61	)	$	(3,051	)



		Six months ended April 30, 2014
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,112	)	$	(5	)	$	(270	)	$	(2,387	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(77		)	(29		)	365			259

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	328			(6		)				322

	Income tax (expense) benefit	(95		)	13			(142		)	(224		)

	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	156			(22		)	223			357

	Balance, end of period	$	(1,956	)	$	(27	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,030	)


		Three months ended April 30, 2015
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,967	)	$	—		$	(54	)	$	(3,021	)

	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(253		)				(11		)	(264		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	216									216

	Income tax benefit	14						4			18

	Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(23		)	—			(7		)	(30		)

	Balance, end of period	$	(2,990	)	$	—		$	(61	)	$	(3,051	)



		Three months ended April 30, 2014
		Employee retirement plans			Available-for-sale securities			Derivative instruments			Total
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,059	)	$	(36	)	$	(29	)	$	(2,124	)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications							(28		)	(28		)

	Gross amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	164			15						179

	Income tax (expense) benefit	(61		)	(6		)	10			(57		)

	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	103			9			(18		)	94

	Balance, end of period	$	(1,956	)	$	(27	)	$	(47	)	$	(2,030	)

Stock_Issuance_and_Stock_Repur1

Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Stock Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Stock repurchase program	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, information about our share repurchase programs:


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Number of shares purchased (in thousands)	211		5		10		3

	Average price per share	$	31.4	$	34.71	$	37.83	$	36.04

	Remaining authorization at April 30 (in thousands)	19,989		8,263		19,989		8,263

Income_Per_Share_Information_T

Income Per Share Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Calculation of income per share	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, information pertaining to the calculation of income per share, common stock equivalents, weighted-average number of antidilutive options, and shares issued (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,				Three months ended April 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Numerator:
	Net income as reported	$	149,255	$	110,802	$	67,930	$	65,222

	Plus interest and costs attributable to 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes, net of income tax benefit	786		789		392		392

	Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$	150,041	$	111,591	$	68,322	$	65,614


	Denominator:
	Basic weighted-average shares	176,267		177,278		176,458		178,082

	Common stock equivalents (a)	2,347		2,529		2,522		2,502

	Shares attributable to 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes	5,858		5,858		5,858		5,858

	Diluted weighted-average shares	184,472		185,665		184,838		186,442


	Other information:
	Weighted-average number of antidilutive options and restricted stock units (b)	2,091		1,426		1,814		1,249

	Shares issued under stock incentive and employee stock purchase plans	1,265		1,225		588		212


	(a)	Common stock equivalents represent the dilutive effect of outstanding in-the-money stock options using the treasury stock method and shares expected to be issued under performance-based restricted stock units and nonperformance-based restricted stock units.

	(b)	Based upon the average closing price of our common stock on the NYSE for the period.

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Tables

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	Apr. 30, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis	The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, a summary of assets (liabilities) related to our financial instruments, measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):


				Fair value
	Financial Instrument	Fair value		April 30,				October 31, 2014
	Financial Instrument	hierarchy		2015				October 31, 2014
	Marketable Securities	Level 2		$	10,015			$	12,026
	Marketable Securities	Level 2		$	10,015			$	12,026
	Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	80,864			$	101,944
	Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	80,864			$	101,944
	Forward Loan Commitments—Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2		$	16			$	(341	)
		Level 2		$	16			$	(341	)
	Interest Rate Lock Commitments (“IRLCs”)	Level 2		$	(969	)		$	(108	)
	Forward Loan Commitments—IRLCs	Level 2		$	969			$	108
	Forward Loan Commitments—IRLCs	Level 2		$	969			$	108
Aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale	The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, the aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale (amounts in thousands):


		Aggregate unpaid				Fair value				Excess
		principal balance				Fair value				Excess
	At April 30, 2015	$	79,984			$	80,864			$	880
	At April 30, 2015	$	79,984			$	80,864			$	880
	At October 31, 2014	$	100,463			$	101,944			$	1,481
	At October 31, 2014	$	100,463			$	101,944			$	1,481
Fair value of inventory adjusted for impairment	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the fair value of operating communities whose carrying value was adjusted and the amount of impairment charges recognized ($ amounts in thousands):


				Impaired operating communities
	Three months ended:	Number of		Number of		Fair value of				Impairment charges
		communities tested		communities		communities,
						net of
						impairment charges
	Fiscal 2015:
	31-Jan	58		4		$	24,968			$	900
	31-Jan	58		4		$	24,968			$	900
	30-Apr	52		1		$	16,235			11,100
	30-Apr	52		1		$	16,235			11,100
										$	12,000
										$	12,000
	Fiscal 2014:
	31-Jan	67		1		$	7,131			$	1,300
	31-Jan	67		1		$	7,131			$	1,300
	30-Apr	65		2		$	6,211			1,600
	30-Apr	65		2		$	6,211			1,600
	31-Jul	63		1		$	14,122			4,800
	31-Jul	63		1		$	14,122			4,800
	31-Oct	55		7		$	38,473			9,855
	31-Oct	55		7		$	38,473			9,855
										$	17,555
										$	17,555
Book value and estimated fair value of the Company's debt	The table below provides, as of the dates indicated, the book value and estimated fair value of our debt (amounts in thousands):


				April 30, 2015								October 31, 2014
		Fair value		Book value				Estimated				Book value		Estimated
		hierarchy		Book value				fair value				Book value		fair value
	Loans payable (a)	Level 2		$	674,817			$	674,649			$	654,261	$	652,944
	Loans payable (a)	Level 2		$	674,817			$	674,649			$	654,261	$	652,944
	Senior notes (b)	Level 1		2,657,376				2,852,929				2,657,376		2,821,559
	Senior notes (b)	Level 1		2,657,376				2,852,929				2,657,376		2,821,559
	Mortgage company loan facility (c)	Level 2		70,052				70,052				90,281		90,281
	Mortgage company loan facility (c)	Level 2		70,052				70,052				90,281		90,281
				$	3,402,245			$	3,597,630			$	3,401,918	$	3,564,784
				$	3,402,245			$	3,597,630			$	3,401,918	$	3,564,784

	(a)	The estimated fair value of loans payable was based upon contractual cash flows discounted at interest rates that we believed were available to us for loans with similar terms and remaining maturities as of the applicable valuation date.

	(b)	The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based upon their market prices as of the applicable valuation date.

	(c)	We believe that the carrying value of our mortgage company loan borrowings approximates their fair value.
Operating communities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis, Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]	The table below summarizes, for the periods indicated, the ranges of certain quantitative unobservable inputs utilized in determining the fair value of impaired communities:


	Three months ended:	Selling price per unit		Sales pace per year		Discount rate
	Three months ended:	(in thousands)		(in units)		Discount rate
	Fiscal 2015:
	31-Jan	$289 - $680		7-Jan		13.5% - 16.0%
	30-Apr	$527 - $600		13 - 25		17.00%

	Fiscal 2014:
	31-Jan	$388 - $405		21 - 23		16.60%
	30-Apr	$634 - $760		7-Apr		12.0% - 15.3%
	31-Jul	$698 - $1,233		22-Oct		15.90%
	31-Oct	$337 - $902		23-Jul		12.5% - 16.5%

Other_Income_Net_Tables

Other Income - Net (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Income - net	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the components of other income - net (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Interest income	$	1,186		$	1,889		$	698		$	825

	Income from ancillary businesses	13,725			3,950			2,886			2,337

	Gibraltar	4,019			5,714			3,197			1,382

	Management fee income from unconsolidated entities	6,390			2,454			3,411			1,227

	Retained customer deposits	2,312			1,310			972			422

	Income from land sales	7,350			11,187			2,533			4,929

	Directly expensed interest				(656		)				(656		)

	Other	953			1,794			222			635

	Total other income - net	$	35,935		$	27,642		$	13,919		$	11,101

Revenues and expenses of non-core ancillary businesses	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, revenues and expenses for our ancillary businesses (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Revenue	$	56,227		$	43,748		$	24,947		$	22,808

	Expense	$	42,502		$	39,798		$	22,061		$	20,471

Schedule of revenues and expenses from land sales [Table Text Block]	The table below provides, for the periods indicated, revenues and expenses recognized from land sales (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Revenue	$	126,746		$	98,152		$	22,725		$	87,124

	Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture	(9,260		)

	Expense	(110,136		)	(86,965		)	(20,192		)	(82,195		)
	Income from land sales	$	7,350		$	11,187		$	2,533		$	4,929

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Company land purchase commitments	Information regarding our land purchase commitments, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		April 30, 2015		October 31, 2014
	Aggregate purchase commitments:
	Unrelated parties	$	882,723	$	1,043,654

	Unconsolidated entities that the Company has investments in	178,825		184,260

	Total	$	1,061,548	$	1,227,914

	Deposits against aggregate purchase commitments	$	71,126	$	103,422

	Additional cash required to acquire land	990,422		1,124,492

	Total	$	1,061,548	$	1,227,914

	Amount of additional cash required to acquire land in accrued expenses	$	1,120	$	764

Company mortgage commitments	Information regarding our mortgage commitments, as of the dates indicated, is provided in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		April 30,		October 31, 2014
		2015
	Aggregate mortgage loan commitments:
	IRLCs	$	355,901	$	191,604

	Non-IRLCs	861,097		709,401

	Total	$	1,216,998	$	901,005

	Investor commitments to purchase:
	IRLCs	$	355,901	$	191,604

	Mortgage loans receivable	72,844		93,261

	Total	$	428,745	$	284,865

Information_on_Operating_Segme1

Information on Operating Segments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Revenue and income (loss) before income taxes and total assets	Revenue and income (loss) before income taxes for each of our reportable and geographic segments, for the periods indicated, were as follows (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,						Three months ended April 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
	Revenues:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	282,454		$	264,885		$	150,018		$	137,241

	Mid-Atlantic	350,891			349,571			187,503			180,475

	South	377,784			336,688			215,917			186,129

	West	570,409			507,835			282,467			321,609

	Traditional Home Building	1,581,538			1,458,979			835,905			825,454

	City Living	124,497			45,076			16,678			34,920

	Total	$	1,706,035		$	1,504,055		$	852,583		$	860,374


	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	13,431		$	17,152		$	2,864		$	8,806

	Mid-Atlantic	40,819			45,909			22,095			24,358

	South	62,600			40,952			39,276			23,584

	West	91,619			78,714			46,270			44,844

	Traditional Home Building	208,469			182,727			110,505			101,592

	City Living	58,005			8,964			6,660			10,022

	Corporate and other	(55,919		)	(26,972		)	(30,633		)	(18,130		)
	Total	$	210,555		$	164,719		$	86,532		$	93,484

	“Corporate and other” is comprised principally of general corporate expenses such as the offices of our executive officers; the corporate finance, accounting, audit, tax, human resources, risk management, information technology, marketing, and legal groups; interest income; income from certain of our ancillary businesses, including Gibraltar; and income from a number of our unconsolidated entities.
	Total assets for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands).


		April 30,			October 31,
		2015			2014
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	1,063,041		$	1,053,787

	Mid-Atlantic	1,272,448			1,267,563

	South	1,246,795			1,165,600

	West	2,821,400			2,676,164

	Traditional Home Building	6,403,684			6,163,114

	City Living	873,725			834,949

	Corporate and other	1,310,272			1,418,839

	Total	$	8,587,681		$	8,416,902

	“Corporate and other” is comprised principally of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, restricted cash, deferred tax assets, the assets of our Gibraltar investments, manufacturing facilities, and our mortgage subsidiary.
schedule of inventory, by segment [Table Text Block]	Inventory for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, is shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


		Land controlled for future communities			Land owned for future communities			Operating communities			Total
	Balances at April 30, 2015:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	11,749		$	167,766		$	851,577		$	1,031,092

	Mid-Atlantic	27,536			246,580			959,620			1,233,736

	South	3,614			225,363			841,185			1,070,162

	West	15,147			1,138,539			1,582,696			2,736,382

	Traditional Home Building	58,046			1,778,248			4,235,078			6,071,372

	City Living	939			451,270			200,762			652,971

		$	58,985		$	2,229,518		$	4,435,840		$	6,724,343


	Balances at October 31, 2014:
	Traditional Home Building:
	North	$	12,007		$	171,780		$	834,266		$	1,018,053

	Mid-Atlantic	29,169			209,506			994,859			1,233,534

	South	10,971			219,904			793,835			1,024,710

	West	22,122			1,391,028			1,177,820			2,590,970

	Traditional Home Building	74,269			1,992,218			3,800,780			5,867,267

	City Living	48,264			363,656			211,134			623,054

		$	122,533		$	2,355,874		$	4,011,914		$	6,490,321

Schedule of investments in unconsolidated entities, be segment [Table Text Block]	Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities for each of our reportable and geographic segments, as of the dates indicated, are shown in the table below (amounts in thousands):


			April 30,			October 31,
			2015			2014
	Traditional Home Building:
	Mid-Atlantic		$	11,929		$	11,841

	South		101,541			98,362

	West		58,575			59,573

	Traditional Home Building		172,045			169,776

	City Living		177,311			159,953

	Corporate and other		117,903			117,349

	Total		$	467,259		$	447,078

Supplemental_Disclosure_to_Con1

Supplemental Disclosure to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Supplemental disclosures to the statements of cash flows	The following are supplemental disclosures to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):


		Six months ended April 30,
		2015			2014
	Cash flow information:
	Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$	8,034

	Interest capitalized, net of amount paid				$	3,798

	Income tax payments	$	140,867		$	30,968

	Income tax refunds	$	165

	Noncash activity:
	Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing or municipal bonds, net	$	45,732		$	71,662

	Reduction in inventory for our share of joint venture earnings in land purchased from unconsolidated entities and allocation of basis difference	$	2,346		$	1,229

	Defined benefit plan amendment	$	754		$	77

	Increase in accrued expenses related to Stock Price-Based Restricted Stock Units paid				$	4,972

	Transfer of inventory to investment in unconsolidated entities				$	700

	Transfer of other assets to investment in unconsolidated entities	$	4,824

	Unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives held by equity investees	$	(22	)	$	365

	Increase in investments in unconsolidated entities for change in the fair value of debt guarantees	$	1,577		$	428

	Miscellaneous decreases to investments in unconsolidated entities	$	(1,403	)	$	(965	)
	Acquisition of a Business:
	Fair value of assets purchased, excluding cash acquired				$	1,520,664

	Liabilities assumed				$	31,548

	Cash paid, net of cash acquired				$	1,489,116

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa1

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract]
Senior Notes issued by Subsidiary Issuer [Table Text Block]	Our 100%-owned subsidiary, Toll Brothers Finance Corp. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), has issued the following Senior Notes (amounts in thousands):


			Original amount issued and amount outstanding at
			April 30, 2015
	5.15% Senior Notes due 2015		$	300,000

	8.91% Senior Notes due 2017		$	400,000

	4.0% Senior Notes due 2018		$	350,000

	6.75% Senior Notes due 2019		$	250,000

	5.875% Senior Notes due 2022		$	419,876

	4.375% Senior Notes due 2023		$	400,000

	5.625% Senior Notes due 2024		$	250,000

	0.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2032		$	287,500

Supplemental Consolidated Financial Information	Supplemental consolidating financial information of Toll Brothers, Inc., the Subsidiary Issuer, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries and the eliminations to arrive at Toll Brothers, Inc. on a consolidated basis is presented below ($ amounts in thousands).
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at April 30, 2015:


		Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
		Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
		Inc.
	ASSETS
	Cash and cash equivalents	—			—			389,236		142,921		—			532,157

	Marketable securities									10,015					10,015

	Restricted cash	15,206						1,297		1,459					17,962

	Inventory							6,417,066		307,277					6,724,343

	Property, construction and office equipment, net							123,887		17,256					141,143

	Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	56			15,029			156,260		118,588		(30,975	)		258,958

	Mortgage loans held for sale									80,864					80,864

	Customer deposits held in escrow							42,241		2,158					44,399

	Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities							125,691		341,568					467,259

	Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									65,938					65,938

	Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	3,824,138			2,681,738			4,740				(6,510,616	)		—

	Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	244,643													244,643

		4,084,043			2,696,767			7,260,418		1,088,044		(6,541,591	)		8,587,681

	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Liabilities
	Loans payable							674,817							674,817

	Senior notes				2,631,124							24,674			2,655,798

	Mortgage company loan facility									70,052					70,052

	Customer deposits							266,530		8,817					275,347

	Accounts payable							233,509		166					233,675

	Accrued expenses				31,906			377,933		209,217		(32,645	)		586,411

	Advances from consolidated entities							1,946,002		751,619		(2,697,621	)		—

	Income taxes payable	37,641													37,641

	Total liabilities	37,641			2,663,030			3,498,791		1,039,871		(2,705,592	)		4,533,741

	Equity
	Stockholders’ equity
	Common stock	1,779						48		3,006		(3,054	)		1,779

	Additional paid-in capital	722,303			49,400					1,734		(51,134	)		722,303

	Retained earnings (deficits)	3,381,290			(15,663	)		3,761,640		35,834		(3,781,811	)		3,381,290

	Treasury stock, at cost	(55,980	)												(55,980	)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,990	)					(61	)						(3,051	)

Total stockholders’ equity	4,046,402			33,737			3,761,627		40,574		(3,835,999	)		4,046,341

Noncontrolling interest									7,599					7,599

Total equity	4,046,402			33,737			3,761,627		48,173		(3,835,999	)		4,053,940

	4,084,043			2,696,767			7,260,418		1,088,044		(6,541,591	)		8,587,681

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at October 31, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	—			—			455,714		130,601		—			586,315

Marketable securities							1,997		10,029					12,026

Restricted cash	15,211						2,070		1,061					18,342

Inventory							6,260,303		230,018					6,490,321

Property, construction and office equipment, net							126,586		16,424					143,010

Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets				16,802			114,863		137,496		(17,589	)		251,572

Mortgage loans held for sale									101,944					101,944

Customer deposits held in escrow							39,912		2,161					42,073

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities							132,096		314,982					447,078

Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									73,800					73,800

Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	3,714,788			2,677,448			4,740				(6,396,976	)		—

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	250,421													250,421

	3,980,420			2,694,250			7,138,281		1,018,516		(6,414,565	)		8,416,902

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Loans payable							653,269		992					654,261

Senior notes				2,625,712							29,332			2,655,044

Mortgage company loan facility									90,281					90,281

Customer deposits							221,084		2,715					223,799

Accounts payable							225,106		241					225,347

Accrued expenses				31,906			386,223		181,649		(18,301	)		581,477

Advances from consolidated entities							2,018,981		708,167		(2,727,148	)		—

Income taxes payable	125,996													125,996

Total liabilities	125,996			2,657,618			3,504,663		984,045		(2,716,117	)		4,556,205

Equity
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock	1,779						48		3,006		(3,054	)		1,779

Additional paid-in capital	712,162			49,400					1,734		(51,134	)		712,162

Retained earnings (deficits)	3,232,035			(12,768	)		3,633,618		23,410		(3,644,260	)		3,232,035

Treasury stock, at cost	(88,762	)												(88,762	)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,790	)					(48	)						(2,838	)

Total stockholders’ equity	3,854,424			36,632			3,633,618		28,150		(3,698,448	)		3,854,376

Noncontrolling interest									6,321					6,321

Total equity	3,854,424			36,632			3,633,618		34,471		(3,698,448	)		3,860,697

	3,980,420			2,694,250			7,138,281		1,018,516		(6,414,565	)		8,416,902





Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the six months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Revenues							1,724,050		33,152		(51,167	)		1,706,035

Cost of revenues							1,332,727		3,095		(7,278	)		1,328,544

Selling, general and administrative	37			1,822			226,194		27,090		(41,144	)		213,999

	37			1,822			1,558,921		30,185		(48,422	)		1,542,543

Income (loss) from operations	(37	)		(1,822	)		165,129		2,967		(2,745	)		163,492

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities							7,434		3,694					11,128

Other income - net	4,670						18,033		13,588		(356	)		35,935

Intercompany interest income				72,393							(72,393	)		—

Interest expense				(75,228	)				(266	)	75,494			—

Income from subsidiaries	205,922						15,326				(221,248	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	210,555			(4,657	)		205,922		19,983		(221,248	)		210,555

Income tax provision (benefit)	61,300			(1,762	)		77,900		7,559		(83,697	)		61,300

Net income (loss)	149,255			(2,895	)		128,022		12,424		(137,551	)		149,255

Other comprehensive loss	(201	)					(12	)						(213	)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	149,054			(2,895	)		128,010		12,424		(137,551	)		149,042


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the six months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Revenues							1,520,077		33,267		(49,289	)		1,504,055

Cost of revenues							1,206,293		4,059		(8,322	)		1,202,030

Selling, general and administrative	69			1,865			213,647		26,436		(39,827	)		202,190

	69			1,865			1,419,940		30,495		(48,149	)		1,404,220

Income (loss) from operations	(69	)		(1,865	)		100,137		2,772		(1,140	)		99,835

Other:
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities							37,578		(336	)				37,242

Other income - net	4,660						17,815		7,208		(2,041	)		27,642

Intercompany interest income				76,107							(76,107	)		—

Interest expense				(78,899	)				(389	)	79,288			—

Income from subsidiaries	160,128						4,598				(164,726	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	164,719			(4,657	)		160,128		9,255		(164,726	)		164,719

Income tax provision (benefit)	53,917			(1,751	)		60,224		3,481		(61,954	)		53,917

Net income (loss)	110,802			(2,906	)		99,904		5,774		(102,772	)		110,802

Other comprehensive income	156						189		12					357

Total comprehensive income (loss)	110,958			(2,906	)		100,093		5,786		(102,772	)		111,159


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Non-		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Guarantor
	Inc.								Subsidiaries
Revenues							861,896		17,550		(26,863	)		852,583

Cost of revenues							680,515		1,429		(3,432	)		678,512

Selling, general and administrative	23			914			114,151		13,701		(21,104	)		107,685

	23			914			794,666		15,130		(24,536	)		786,197

Income (loss) from operations	(23	)		(914	)		67,230		2,420		(2,327	)		66,386

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities							2,712		3,515					6,227

Other income - net	2,300						7,800		3,003		816			13,919

Intercompany interest income				36,200							(36,200	)		—

Interest expense				(37,576	)				(135	)	37,711			—

Income from subsidiaries	84,255						6,513				(90,768	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	86,532			(2,290	)		84,255		8,803		(90,768	)		86,532

Income tax provision (benefit)	18,602			(871	)		32,093		3,349		(34,571	)		18,602

Net income (loss)	67,930			(1,419	)		52,162		5,454		(56,197	)		67,930

Other comprehensive loss	(23	)					(7	)						(30	)

Total comprehensive income (loss)	67,907			(1,419	)		52,155		5,454		(56,197	)		67,900


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Non-		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Guarantor
	Inc.								Subsidiaries
Revenues							869,305		17,665		(26,596	)		860,374

Cost of revenues							690,656		1,457		(4,115	)		687,998

Selling, general and administrative	14			928			110,947		12,799		(20,368	)		104,320

	14			928			801,603		14,256		(24,483	)		792,318

Income (loss) from operations	(14	)		(928	)		67,702		3,409		(2,113	)		68,056

Other:
Income from unconsolidated entities							13,371		956					14,327

Other income - net	2,295						7,243		1,008		555			11,101

Intercompany interest income				37,963							(37,963	)		—

Interest expense				(39,325	)				(196	)	39,521			—

Income from subsidiaries	91,203						2,887				(94,090	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes	93,484			(2,290	)		91,203		5,177		(94,090	)		93,484

Income tax provision (benefit)	28,262			(823	)		33,212		1,883		(34,272	)		28,262

Net income (loss)	65,222			(1,467	)		57,991		3,294		(59,818	)		65,222

Other comprehensive income (loss)	103						(11	)	2					94

Total comprehensive income (loss)	65,325			(1,467	)		57,980		3,296		(59,818	)		65,316


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended April 30, 2015:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(48,714	)		4,290			15,173		(2,631	)	(6,060	)		(37,942	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net							(5,037	)	(847	)				(5,884	)

Sale and redemption of marketable securities							2,000							2,000

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities							(2,253	)	(25,452	)				(27,705	)

Return of investments in unconsolidated entities							5,797		4,840					10,637

Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									(1,697	)				(1,697	)

Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									14,592					14,592

Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest							3,848							3,848

Intercompany advances	18,228			(4,290	)						(13,938	)		—

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	18,228			(4,290	)		4,355		(8,564	)	(13,938	)		(4,209	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable									529,053					529,053

Principal payments of loans payable							(22,556	)	(550,282	)				(572,838	)

Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	34,057													34,057

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	3,045													3,045

Purchase of treasury stock	(6,616	)												(6,616	)

Receipts related to noncontrolling interest									1,292					1,292

Intercompany advances							(63,450	)	43,452		19,998			—

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	30,486			—			(86,006	)	23,515		19,998			(12,007	)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	—			—			(66,478	)	12,320		—			(54,158	)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	—			—			455,714		130,601		—			586,315

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	—			—			389,236		142,921		—			532,157

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended April 30, 2014:


	Toll			Subsidiary			Guarantor		Nonguarantor		Eliminations			Consolidated
	Brothers,			Issuer			Subsidiaries		Subsidiaries
	Inc.
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	44,258			15,152			(87,965	)	(27,401	)	(10,229	)		(66,185	)

Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment — net							(5,718	)	(49	)				(5,767	)

Sale and redemption of marketable securities							39,243							39,243

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities							(13,602	)	(67,052	)				(80,654	)

Return of investments in unconsolidated entities							35,714		3,300					39,014

Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									(757	)				(757	)

Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate									22,424					22,424

Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired							(1,489,116	)						(1,489,116	)

Dividend received - intercompany							15,000				(15,000	)		—

Intercompany advances	(289,604	)		(342,492	)						632,096			—

Net cash used in investing activities	(289,604	)		(342,492	)		(1,418,479	)	(42,134	)	617,096			(1,475,613	)

Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				600,000										600,000

Debt issuance costs for senior notes				(4,700	)									(4,700	)

Proceeds from loans payable							1,141,300		456,262					1,597,562

Debt issuance costs for loans payable							(3,005	)						(3,005	)

Principal payments of loans payable							(572,257	)	(474,420	)				(1,046,677	)

Redemption of senior notes				(267,960	)									(267,960	)

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	220,357													220,357

Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	23,333													23,333

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,841													1,841

Purchase of treasury stock	(185	)												(185	)

Receipts related to noncontrolling interest									81					81

Dividend paid - intercompany									(15,000	)	15,000			—

Intercompany advances							505,993		115,874		(621,867	)		—

Net cash provided by financing activities	245,346			327,340			1,072,031		82,797		(606,867	)		1,120,647

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	—			—			(434,413	)	13,262		—			(421,151	)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	—			—			670,102		102,870		—			772,972

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	—			—			235,689		116,132		—			351,821

Acquisition_Detail_Textuals

Acquisition (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Feb. 04, 2014
	Feb. 04, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	home_sites	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	home_sites
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired					$1,489,116,000
Number of Homes to be Delivered		4,387		4,387
Sales Value of Outstanding Deliver Homes		3,480,000,000		3,480,000,000
Shapell [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition			4-Feb-14
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity			Shapell Industries, Inc.
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement			6-Nov-13
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	1,490,000,000
Number of home sites included in acquisition			4,950
Number of Homes to be Delivered	126					126
Sales Value of Outstanding Deliver Homes	105,300,000					105,300,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs		$0	$5,100,000	$0	$5,900,000

Inventory_Details

Inventory (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Total Inventory
Inventory	$6,724,343	$6,490,321
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Total Inventory
Inventory	58,985	122,533
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Total Inventory
Inventory	2,229,518	2,355,874
Operating communities [Member]
Total Inventory
Inventory	$4,435,840	$4,011,914

Inventory_Details_1

Inventory (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	communities	communities
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities (in ones)	18	16
Carrying Value	$156,267	$122,015
Operating communities [Member]
Temporarily Closed communities
Number of Communities (in ones)	8	9
Carrying Value	$23,025	$42,092

Inventory_Details_2

Inventory (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Schedule of inventory [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	$12,166	$1,924	$13,310	$3,906
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Schedule of inventory [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	366	324	610	1,006
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Schedule of inventory [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	700		700
Operating communities [Member]
Schedule of inventory [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	$11,100	$1,600	$12,000	$2,900

Inventory_Details_3

Inventory (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest capitalized, beginning of period	$364,228	$356,618	$356,180	$343,077
Interest incurred	39,954	42,684	80,458	82,628
Interest expensed to cost of revenues	-29,576	-29,145	-57,953	-54,585
Write-off against other income	-410	-722	-1,738	-1,039
Interest capitalized on investments in unconsolidated entities	-2,074	-2,300	-4,825	-4,757
Previously capitalized interest on investments in unconsolidated entities transferred to inventory	772		772	1,811
Interest capitalized, end of period	$372,894	$367,135	$372,894	$367,135

Inventory_Details_Textual

Inventory (Details Textual) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Inventory (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Inventory Capitalized Interest Costs Impairment	$33,700	$35,400
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of VIE Land Purchase Contracts (in ones)	55		63
Aggregate purchase price of VIE lands	629,300		578,200
Deposits for purchase of lands with VIE entities	$29,700		$30,700

Investments_in_and_Advances_to2

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
	joint_ventures	Oct. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	22
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$467,259,000	$447,078,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	10
Other Commitment	80,874,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	7
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	144,103,000	140,221,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	4
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	4
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	205,253,000	189,509,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	2
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	10
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	100,939,000	97,353,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	4
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Joint Ventures	1
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	16,964,000	19,995,000
Number of joint venture with funding commitments	0
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] \| Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	31,180,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] \| Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	29,887,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] \| Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	19,807,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member] \| Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other Commitment	$0

Investments_in_and_Advances_to3

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details 2) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015
	joint_ventures
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	3
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$175,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	111,506,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	2
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	222,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	78,906,000
Rental Property Joint Ventures [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	8
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	734,685,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	431,584,000
Total Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	13
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	1,131,685,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	$621,996,000

Investments_in_and_Advances_to4

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	19 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 17, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
	joint_ventures	Apr. 30, 2014	joint_ventures	Apr. 30, 2014	home_sites	Apr. 17, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	$80,874,000		$80,874,000
Land Sales	22,725,000	87,124,000	126,746,000	98,152,000
Retail Land Sales, Installment Method, Gross Profit, Deferred
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	467,259,000		467,259,000					447,078,000
Number of Joint Ventures	22		22
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	6,227,000	14,327,000	11,128,000	37,242,000
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions			11,490,000	39,471,000
Land sales earnings, net	2,533,000	4,929,000	7,350,000	11,187,000
Management Fees Revenue	3,411,000	1,227,000	6,390,000	2,454,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	175,000,000		175,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	111,506,000		111,506,000
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	3		3
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	222,000,000		222,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	78,906,000		78,906,000
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	2		2
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	124,000,000		124,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	52,100,000		52,100,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Two [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	160,000,000		160,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	26,800,000		26,800,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Floors To Be Acquired From Joint Venture	18		18
Rental Property Joint Ventures [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	734,685,000		734,685,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	431,584,000		431,584,000
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	8		8
Rental Property Joint Ventures Q Two Fiscal Fifteen [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	39,000,000		39,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	0		0
Number of joint ventures with loan commitments	1		1
Line of Credit Facility, Number of Banks included	2		2
Rental Property Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Amounts borrowed under commitments	12,400,000		12,400,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities		12,000,000
Management Fees Revenue		1,100,000
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions		36,000,000	2,000,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member] \| Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	33.30%		33.30%
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member] \| Management [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	33.30%		33.30%
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	144,103,000		144,103,000					140,221,000
Number of Joint Ventures	7		7
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	2,939,000	135,000	5,381,000	103,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member] \| Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	31,180,000		31,180,000
Land Development Joint Venture Five [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Lots Acquired From Joint Venture	48				515
Other Commitment	15,500,000		15,500,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	205,253,000		205,253,000					189,509,000
Number of Joint Ventures	4		4
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	916,000	145,000	1,458,000	327,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member] \| Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	29,887,000		29,887,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			15,900,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	25.00%		25.00%
Land Sales			78,500,000
Retail Land Sales, Installment Method, Gross Profit, Deferred			9,260,000
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	16,700,000		16,700,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Two [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	28,600,000		28,600,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Two [Member] \| Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	21,600,000		21,600,000
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	132,000,000		132,000,000
Rental Property Joint Ventures Q Two Fiscal Fifteen [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Land Sales			14,500,000
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	5,000,000		5,000,000
Number of Joint Ventures	2		2
Retail Land Sales, Maturity of Accounts Receivable, Next Twelve Months	2,300,000		2,300,000
Payments to Acquire and Develop Real Estate						18,800,000
Rental Property Joint Ventures Q Two Fiscal Fifteen [Member] \| Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	75.00%		75.00%
Rental Property Joint Ventures Q Two Fiscal Fifteen [Member] \| Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	5,500,000		5,500,000
Rental Property Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	16,800,000		16,800,000
Rental Property Joint Venture Metro New York [Member] \| Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Other Commitment	13,900,000		13,900,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust 2 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Land Sales				2,900,000
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	700,000		700,000
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities							23,500,000
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions				20,000,000
Land sales earnings, net				2,900,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust 2 [Member] \| Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	33.30%		33.30%
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	0		0
Management Fees Revenue	600,000		1,200,000	1,700,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Amounts borrowed under commitments	$412,500,000		$412,500,000

Investments_in_and_Advances_to5

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities Investments in and Advances in Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual 2) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	467,259,000	$447,078,000
Other Commitment	80,874,000
Equity Method Investee [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantees, Fair Value Disclosure	4,500,000
Equity Method Investee [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Number Of Unconsolidated Entities That Are Considered Variable Interest Entities	1	3
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	7,000,000	46,400,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	922,200,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	922,200,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments	412,500,000
Maxiumum guarantor obigation for borrowings by JVs	412,500,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Term	P7M
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Term	P60M
Ground Lease and Insurance Deductible Guarantee Member [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	10,900,000
Number of JVs, ground lease and other	3
Ground Lease and Insurance Deductible Guarantee Member [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted		9,100,000
Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Ventures [Member] \| Equity Method Investee [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Statement of Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Other Commitment	400,000	$43,400,000

Investments_in_and_Advances_to6

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details 3) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$88,851,000	$110,291,000
Inventory	873,459,000	723,236,000
Non-performing loan portfolio	41,522,000	57,641,000
Rental properties	245,087,000	140,238,000
Rental properties under development	330,394,000	327,315,000
Real estate owned ("REO")	162,843,000	184,753,000
Other assets	215,660,000	197,649,000
Total assets	1,957,816,000	1,741,123,000
Debt	708,340,000	521,833,000
Other liabilities	118,105,000	123,784,000
Member's equity	1,000,735,000	936,089,000
Non-controlling interest	130,636,000	159,417,000
Total liabilities and equity	1,957,816,000	1,741,123,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	467,259,000	447,078,000
Restricted cash	17,962,000	18,342,000
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	13,347,000	23,462,000
Inventory
Non-performing loan portfolio	41,522,000	57,641,000
Rental properties
Rental properties under development
Real estate owned ("REO")	162,843,000	184,753,000
Other assets	77,990,000	77,986,000
Total assets	295,702,000	343,842,000
Debt	77,950,000	77,950,000
Other liabilities	5,000	177,000
Member's equity	87,111,000	106,298,000
Non-controlling interest	130,636,000	159,417,000
Total liabilities and equity	295,702,000	343,842,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	16,964,000	19,995,000
Restricted cash	78,000,000	78,000,000
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	32,607,000	33,040,000
Inventory
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties	245,087,000	140,238,000
Rental properties under development	330,394,000	327,315,000
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	12,773,000	14,333,000
Total assets	620,861,000	514,926,000
Debt	431,584,000	333,128,000
Other liabilities	29,922,000	43,088,000
Member's equity	159,355,000	138,710,000
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	620,861,000	514,926,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	100,939,000	97,353,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	13,378,000	21,821,000
Inventory	627,461,000	465,144,000
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties
Rental properties under development
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	69,551,000	75,164,000
Total assets	710,390,000	562,129,000
Debt	86,186,000	8,713,000
Other liabilities	56,870,000	56,665,000
Member's equity	567,334,000	496,751,000
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	710,390,000	562,129,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	205,253,000	189,509,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	29,519,000	31,968,000
Inventory	245,998,000	258,092,000
Non-performing loan portfolio
Rental properties
Rental properties under development
Real estate owned ("REO")
Other assets	55,346,000	30,166,000
Total assets	330,863,000	320,226,000
Debt	112,620,000	102,042,000
Other liabilities	31,308,000	23,854,000
Member's equity	186,935,000	194,330,000
Non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and equity	330,863,000	320,226,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	$144,103,000	$140,221,000

Investments_in_and_Advances_to7

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	$40,237	$133,115	$86,306	$155,973
Cost of revenues	27,662	80,490	63,549	97,867
Other expenses	6,175	11,176	12,699	24,944
Total expenses	33,837	91,666	76,248	122,811
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	15,955	2,551	23,586	6,458
Income (loss) from operations	22,355	44,000	33,644	39,620
Other income	1,047	1,917	1,707	44,938
Net income (loss)	23,402	45,917	35,351	84,558
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-9,454	-1,751	-11,077	-2,654
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	13,948	44,166	24,274	81,904
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-23	-56	-45	729
Total comprehensive income	13,925	44,110	24,229	82,633
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	6,227	14,327	11,128	37,242
Structured Asset Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	2,072	3,505	2,961	3,789
Cost of revenues	2,773	4,132	8,848	6,482
Other expenses	266	415	592	874
Total expenses	3,039	4,547	9,440	7,356
Gain on disposition of loans and REO	15,955	2,551	23,586	6,458
Income (loss) from operations	14,988	1,509	17,107	2,891
Other income	768	1,409	1,355	1,533
Net income (loss)	15,756	2,918	18,462	4,424
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-9,454	-1,751	-11,077	-2,654
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	6,302	1,167	7,385	1,770
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	6,302	1,167	7,385	1,770
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	1,258	1,175	1,474	190
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	7,716	7,557	15,327	17,006
Cost of revenues	3,958	3,419	7,227	7,390
Other expenses	4,309	9,504	8,698	21,558
Total expenses	8,267	12,923	15,925	28,948
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	-551	-5,366	-598	-11,942
Other income		342		43,199
Net income (loss)	-551	-5,024	-598	31,257
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	-551	-5,024	-598	31,257
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-23	-56	-45	729
Total comprehensive income	-574	-5,080	-643	31,986
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	1,114	12,872	2,815	36,622
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	13,484	110,406	31,759	111,950
Cost of revenues	6,486	61,488	16,116	62,170
Other expenses	299	210	533	465
Total expenses	6,785	61,698	16,649	62,635
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	6,699	48,708	15,110	49,315
Other income	11	4	11	5
Net income (loss)	6,710	48,712	15,121	49,320
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	6,710	48,712	15,121	49,320
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	6,710	48,712	15,121	49,320
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	2,939	135	5,381	103
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Condensed Statements of Operations:
Revenues	16,965	11,647	36,259	23,228
Cost of revenues	14,445	11,451	31,358	21,825
Other expenses	1,301	1,047	2,876	2,047
Total expenses	15,746	12,498	34,234	23,872
Gain on disposition of loans and REO
Income (loss) from operations	1,219	-851	2,025	-644
Other income	268	162	341	201
Net income (loss)	1,487	-689	2,366	-443
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	1,487	-689	2,366	-443
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income	1,487	-689	2,366	-443
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	$916	$145	$1,458	$327

Investments_in_Distressed_Loan2

Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Investments in Distress Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate [Abstract]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$2,258		$4,001
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	63,680	66,934	69,799	76,652	79,267	72,972
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	$65,938		$73,800

Investments_in_Foreclosed_Real

Investments in Foreclosed Real Estate (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Schedule of changes in real estate owned [Roll Forward]
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	$66,934	$79,267	$69,799	$72,972
Real Estate Owned Additions	227	871	1,904	8,036
Real Estate Owned, Sales	-3,382	-3,384	-7,668	-4,192
Real Estate Owned, Impairments	-14	-2	-183	-2
Real Estate Held And Used Depreciation	-85	-100	-172	-162
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	$63,680	$76,652	$63,680	$76,652

Investments_in_Distressed_Loan3

Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate (Details Textual) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Investments in Non-Performing Loan Portfolios and Foreclosed Real Estate (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	$63,680	$66,934	$69,799	$76,652	$79,267	$72,972
Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Investments in Non-Performing Loan Portfolios and Foreclosed Real Estate (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	10,200			7,200
real estate held and used [Member]
Investments in Non-Performing Loan Portfolios and Foreclosed Real Estate (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	$53,500			$69,500

Investments_in_Distressed_Loan4

Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate Investments in Distressed Loans and Foreclosed Real Estate (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Gains (losses) upon acquisition of REO	$0	$5	$230	$1,523

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and2

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Loans Payable (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Unsecured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	$500,000	$500,000
Other Loans Payable	174,817	154,261
Loans payable	$674,817	$654,261

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and3

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Term Loan Facility (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015
Five year term note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term		5 years
Proceeds from Bank Debt	$485		$15
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End				1.59%
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent				100.00%

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and4

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Loans Payable - Other (Details Textual 2) (Loans Payable [Member])	Apr. 30, 2015
Loans Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.20%

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and5

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Credit Facility (Details Textual 3) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Aug. 01, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$1,035,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, term of contract	5 years
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	1-Aug-18
Maximum Permissible Leverage Ratio	175.00%
Minimum Net Worth Required for Compliance	2,570,000,000
Existing Leverage Ratio	0.702
Tangible Net Worth	4,000,000,000
Ability to repurchase common stock	1,890,000,000
Long-term Line of Credit	0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$97,800,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and6

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Senior Notes Payable (Details Textual 4) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Mar. 16, 2004	Nov. 12, 2013	Nov. 13, 2013	Jun. 02, 2005
	debtissuances	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Mar. 16, 2004	Nov. 12, 2013	Nov. 13, 2013	Jun. 02, 2005
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of issuances of senior debt	8
Issued Senior Notes	$2,655,798,000				$2,655,044,000
Repayments of Senior Debt		267,960,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		600,000,000
Senior Notes Issued for Cash [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	2,657,000,000
Four Point Nine Fine Percent Senior Notes Due two thousand and fourteen [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Repayments of Senior Debt			268,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.95%
Four percent Senior Notes due two thousand and eighteen [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		350,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							4.00%
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs		596,000,000
five point six two five percent Senior notes due twenty twenty four [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		250,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage								5.63%
5.15% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage									5.15%
Subsequent Event [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Repayments of Senior Debt				300,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term Line of Credit	0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Senior Note Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term Line of Credit				$250,000,000

Loans_Payable_Senior_Notes_and7

Loans Payable, Senior Notes and Mortgage Company Loan Facility Mortgage Company Loan Facility (Details Textual 5) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Mortgage company loan facility	$70,052	$90,281
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	50,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	100,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	2.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	2.18%
Mortgage company loan facility	$70,100
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.00%

Accrued_Expenses_Details

Accrued Expenses (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Accrued expenses
Land, land development and construction	$107,041		$124,816
Compensation and employee benefits	125,306		118,607
Self-insurance	108,575		100,407
Warranty	83,057	84,695	86,282	52,579	42,688	43,819
Interest	33,436		33,993
Commitments to unconsolidated entities	4,919		3,293
Other	124,077		114,079
Accrued expenses, Total	$586,411		$581,477

Accrued_Expenses_Accrued_Expen

Accrued Expenses Accrued Expenses (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
	communities
Construction Claims, Three Community Associations, West Region [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number Of Communities Filing Claim	3
Stucco Related [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	54,000,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery, Percentage	40.00%
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)	25,000,000

Accrued_Expenses_Details_1

Accrued Expenses (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Changes in the warranty accrual
Balance, beginning of year	$84,695	$42,688	$86,282	$43,819
Additions - homes closed during the year	4,335	4,205	8,253	7,302
Standard Product Warranty Accrual, Additions from Business Acquisition		9,244		9,244
Charges incurred	-6,414	-4,635	-12,787	-9,207
Balance, end of year	83,057	52,579	83,057	52,579
Warranty change, homes closed in prior period, other [Member]
Changes in the warranty accrual
Increase (decrease) to accruals for homes closed in prior periods	$441	$1,077	$1,309	$1,421

Income_Taxes_Details_Textual

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$18,602,000	$28,262,000	$61,300,000	$53,917,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	21.50%	30.20%	29.10%	32.70%
Number of states	19		19
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	45,600,000		45,600,000
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible	10,800,000		10,800,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent			6.70%		7.20%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	13,700,000		13,700,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$42,500,000		$42,500,000		$43,800,000

StockBased_Benefit_Plans_Detai

Stock-Based Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock based expense recognized	$5,106	$4,625	$12,552	$12,294
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$1,927	$1,647	$4,736	$4,619

StockBased_Benefit_Plans_Detai1

Stock-Based Benefit Plans (Details Textual) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$34.80	$24

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	($3,021)	($2,124)	($2,838)	($2,387)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-264	-28	-773	259
Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax	216	179	432	322
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	18	-57	128	-224
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	-30	94	-213	357
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-3,051	-2,030	-3,051	-2,030
Employee retirement plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-2,967	-2,059	-2,789	-2,112
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-253		-754	-77
Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax	216	164	432	328
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	14	-61	121	-95
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	-23	103	-201	156
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-2,990	-1,956	-2,990	-1,956
Available-for-sale-securities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	-36	-2	-5
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			3	-29
Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax		15		-6
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent		-6	-1	13
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	0	9	2	-22
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	-27	0	-27
Derivative instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-54	-29	-47	-270
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-11	-28	-22	365
Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	4	10	8	-142
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	-7	-18	-14	223
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	($61)	($47)	($61)	($47)

Stock_Issuance_and_Stock_Repur2

Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 16, 2014	Nov. 07, 2013	Mar. 31, 2003
Share Repurchase Program
Number of shares purchased		10	3	211	5
Average price per share		$37.83	$36.04	$31.40	$34.71
Remaining authorization at April 30:		19,989	8,263	19,989	8,263
Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	7,200
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share		$0.01		$0.01
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share							$32
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock					$220,357
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased						20,000		20,000

Income_Per_Share_Information_D

Income Per Share Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Sep. 05, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Parent	$67,930	$65,222	$149,255	$110,802
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax	392	392	786	789
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	$68,322	$65,614	$150,041	$111,591
Basic weighted-average shares	176,458	178,082	176,267	177,278
Common stock equivalents	2,522	2,502	2,347	2,529
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Conversion of Debt Securities	5,858	5,858	5,858	5,858
Diluted weighted-average shares	184,838	186,442	184,472	185,665
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Shares Issued under Stock Incentive and Employee Stock Purchase Plans	588	212	1,265	1,225
Zero Point Five Percent Exchangeable Senior Notes Due Two Thousand and Thirty Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					0.50%
Restricted Stock Units RSU And Employee Stock Option Member [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,814	1,249	2,091	1,426

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Level_4

Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 FV of Fin Instr) (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], Level 2 [Member], USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Forward Contracts [Member] \| Residential Mortgage [Member]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Derivative (Liability)/Asset	$16	($341)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Fair value of securities	10,015	12,026
Assets Held-for-sale [Member] \| Residential Mortgage [Member]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	80,864	101,944
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member] \| Forward Contracts [Member]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Derivative Asset/(Liability)	969	108
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Summary of assets and (liabilities), measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Derivative (Liability)/Asset	($969)	($108)

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Level_41

Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 loan UPB vs FV) (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	$80,864	$101,944
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Assets Held-for-sale [Member] \| Residential Mortgage [Member]
Aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale
Aggregate unpaid principal balance	79,984	100,463
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net	80,864	101,944
Fair Value, Option, Aggregate Differences, Loans and Long-term Receivables	$880	$1,481

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Level_42

Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 marketable securities) (Details 2)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Marketable Securities Maturities Term Min	7 months

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Fair_Va

Fair Value Disclosures Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 Inv Impair inputs) (Details 3) (Operating communities [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member]
Fair value inputs, assets, quantitative information [Line Items]
Average selling price	$527	$289	$337	$698	$634	$388
Sales Pace (in ones)	13	1	7	10	4	21
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.00%	13.50%	12.50%	15.90%	12.00%	16.60%
Maximum [Member]
Fair value inputs, assets, quantitative information [Line Items]
Average selling price	$600	$680	$902	$1,233	$760	$405
Sales Pace (in ones)	25	7	23	22	7	23
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	17.00%	16.00%	16.50%	15.90%	15.30%	16.60%

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Level_43

Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 inventory fv) (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	$12,166	$1,924	$13,310	$3,906
Operating communities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down			12,000		17,555
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Number of Operating Communities Tested (in ones)	52	65				58	55	63	67
Number of Communities Impaired (in ones)	1	2				4	7	1	1
Fair Value Of Communities Net Of Impairment Charges	16,235	6,211	16,235	6,211	38,473	24,968	38,473	14,122	7,131
Inventory Write-down	$11,100	$1,600				$900	$9,855	$4,800	$1,300

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Level_44

Fair Value Disclosures (Level 4 debt fv) (Details 5) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Loans Payable [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	$674,649	$652,944
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	70,052	90,281
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	2,852,929	2,821,559
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Loans Payable [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	674,817	654,261
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	70,052	90,281
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	2,657,376	2,657,376
Book value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	3,402,245	3,401,918
Estimate fair value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	$3,597,630	$3,564,784

Other_Income_Net_Details

Other Income - Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Other Nonoperating Income By Component [Line Items]
Interest income	$698	$825	$1,186	$1,889
Income from Ancillary Businesses	2,886	2,337	13,725	3,950
Management fee income from unconsolidated entities	3,411	1,227	6,390	2,454
Retained customer deposits	972	422	2,312	1,310
Income from land sales	2,533	4,929	7,350	11,187
Directly expensed interest		-656		-656
Other	222	635	953	1,794
Total other income - net	13,919	11,101	35,935	27,642
Revenues and expenses of non-core ancillary businesses
Revenue	24,947	22,808	56,227	43,748
Expense	22,061	20,471	42,502	39,798
Revenues and expenses from land sales [Abstract]
Revenue	22,725	87,124	126,746	98,152
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture
Expense	-20,192	-82,195	-110,136	-86,965
Income from land sales	2,533	4,929	7,350	11,187
Gibraltar [Member]
Other Nonoperating Income By Component [Line Items]
Gibraltar	3,197	1,382	4,019	5,714
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Revenues and expenses from land sales [Abstract]
Revenue			78,500
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture			($9,260)

Other_Income_Net_Details_Textu

Other Income - Net (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses	$2,886	$2,337	$13,725	$3,950
Land Sales	22,725	87,124	126,746	98,152
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture
Trust Two [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales				2,900
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales			78,500
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	25.00%		25.00%
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture			9,260
Security Monitoring Business [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses			$8,100

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Company's land purchase commitments
Purchase Obligation	$1,061,548	$1,227,914
Land Purchase Commitment To Unrelated Party [Member]
Company's land purchase commitments
Purchase Obligation	882,723	1,043,654
Land Purchase Commitment To JV [Member]
Company's land purchase commitments
Purchase Obligation	178,825	184,260
Land Parcel Purchase Commitment [Member]
Company's land purchase commitments
Deposits against aggregate purchase commitments	71,126	103,422
Additional cash required to acquire land	990,422	1,124,492
Amount of Additional Cash Required to Acquire Land Included in Accrued Expenses	$1,120	$764

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 1) (Loan Origination Commitments [Member], USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Company's mortgage commitments
Unused Commitments to Extend Credit	$1,216,998	$901,005
Investor commitments to purchase	428,745	284,865
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Company's mortgage commitments
Unused Commitments to Extend Credit	355,901	191,604
Investor commitments to purchase	355,901	191,604
Non Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member] [Member]
Company's mortgage commitments
Unused Commitments to Extend Credit	861,097	709,401
Mortgage Receivable [Member]
Company's mortgage commitments
Investor commitments to purchase	$72,844	$93,261

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Expected Lot Purchase	3,300
Purchase Obligation	$1,061,548,000	$1,227,914,000
Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of JV with Purchase Commitments	3
Land Purchase Commitment To JV [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation	178,825,000	184,260,000
Land for Apartment Development Purchase Commitment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation	29,900,000
Deposits against Aggregate Purchase Commitments	900,000
Lease On Land For High-Rise Cooperative Owned Building [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Deposits against Aggregate Purchase Commitments	4,700,000
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	99 years
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	17,500,000
Estimated lease payments	$4,700,000
Estimated number of years to be paid	2 years
Commitment To Acquire Home Sites [Member] \| Land Development Joint Venture [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of Home Sites to be Acquired from Joint Ventures	536

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	luxury_homes
Backlog Information [Abstract]
Number of homes to be delivered (in ones)	4,387
Aggregate sales value of outstanding homes to be delivered	$3,480
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding letter of credit	97.8
Surety Bond Construction Improvements [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum	610.5
Amount of work remains on improvements in the Company's various communities	389.1
Surety Bond Other Obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Additional outstanding surety bonds	$106.30

Information_on_Operating_Segme2

Information on Operating Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Revenues
Revenues	$852,583	$860,374	$1,706,035	$1,504,055
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	86,532	93,484	210,555	164,719
Total assets
Total assets	8,587,681		8,587,681		8,416,902
North [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	150,018	137,241	282,454	264,885
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	2,864	8,806	13,431	17,152
Total assets
Total assets	1,063,041		1,063,041		1,053,787
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	187,503	180,475	350,891	349,571
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	22,095	24,358	40,819	45,909
Total assets
Total assets	1,272,448		1,272,448		1,267,563
South [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	215,917	186,129	377,784	336,688
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	39,276	23,584	62,600	40,952
Total assets
Total assets	1,246,795		1,246,795		1,165,600
West [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	282,467	321,609	570,409	507,835
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	46,270	44,844	91,619	78,714
Total assets
Total assets	2,821,400		2,821,400		2,676,164
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	835,905	825,454	1,581,538	1,458,979
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	110,505	101,592	208,469	182,727
Total assets
Total assets	6,403,684		6,403,684		6,163,114
City Living [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	16,678	34,920	124,497	45,076
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	6,660	10,022	58,005	8,964
Total assets
Total assets	873,725		873,725		834,949
Corporate and other [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income before income taxes	-30,633	-18,130	-55,919	-26,972
Total assets
Total assets	$1,310,272		$1,310,272		$1,418,839

Information_on_Operating_Segme3

Information on Operating Segments (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$6,724,343	$6,490,321
Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	58,985	122,533
Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,229,518	2,355,874
Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,435,840	4,011,914
North [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,031,092	1,018,053
North [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	11,749	12,007
North [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	167,766	171,780
North [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	851,577	834,266
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,233,736	1,233,534
Mid-Atlantic [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	27,536	29,169
Mid-Atlantic [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	246,580	209,506
Mid-Atlantic [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	959,620	994,859
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,070,162	1,024,710
South [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	3,614	10,971
South [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	225,363	219,904
South [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	841,185	793,835
West [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	2,736,382	2,590,970
West [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	15,147	22,122
West [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,138,539	1,391,028
West [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,582,696	1,177,820
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	6,071,372	5,867,267
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	58,046	74,269
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	1,778,248	1,992,218
Traditional Homebuilding [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	4,235,078	3,800,780
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	652,971	623,054
City Living [Member] \| Land controlled for future communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	939	48,264
City Living [Member] \| Land Owned for Future Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	451,270	363,656
City Living [Member] \| Operating communities [Member]
Segment Reporting, Inventory [Line items]
Inventory	$200,762	$211,134

Information_on_Operating_Segme4

Information on Operating Segments Information on Operating Segments (Details 2) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$467,259,000	$447,078,000
Mid-Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	11,929,000	11,841,000
South [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	101,541,000	98,362,000
West [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	58,575,000	59,573,000
Traditional Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	172,045,000	169,776,000
City Living [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	177,311,000	159,953,000
Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	117,903,000	117,349,000
Rental Property Joint Venture College Park, Maryland [Member] \| Corporate and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures		$12,400,000

Information_on_Operating_Segme5

Information on Operating Segments (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
Information on Operating Segments (Details Textual)	Apr. 30, 2015
Information on Operating Segments [Abstract]
Number of Operating Segments	2
Number of Geographic Segments	4

Supplemental_Disclosure_to_Con2

Supplemental Disclosure to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Cash flow information:
Interest Paid, Net	$8,034
Interest Capitalized Net of Amounts Paid		3,798
Income tax payment	140,867	30,968
Income tax refunds	165
Non-cash activity:
Cost of inventory acquired through seller financing municipal bonds or recorded due to VIE criteria, net	45,732	71,662
Reduction in inventory, share of equity earnings, land purchase from JV	2,346	1,229
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Amendments	754	77
Non cash increase in accrued expenses related to RSU pay out		4,972
Contribution of Property		700
Non Cash Transfer Of Other Assets To Investment In Unconsolidated Entities	4,824
Increase Decrease In Investment In Unconsolidated Subsidiary Due to Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives	-22	365
Change in fair value of debt guarantees	1,577	428
Miscellaneous increases (decreases) to investments in unconsolidated entities	-1,403	-965
Acquisition of Business [Abstract]
Business Combination, Assets Acquired Net Of Cash Acquired		1,520,664
Fair Value of Liabilities Assumed Business Combination		31,548
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		$1,489,116

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa2

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 Senior Note table) (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Senior notes	$2,655,798	$2,655,044
Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	300,000
Senior notes	300,000
Interest rate on notes	5.15%
Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	400,000
Senior notes	400,000
Interest rate on notes	8.91%
Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	250,000
Senior notes	250,000
Interest rate on notes	6.75%
Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	419,876
Senior notes	419,876
Interest rate on notes	5.88%
Senior Notes Due 2023 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	400,000
Senior notes	400,000
Interest rate on notes	4.38%
Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Thirty-Two [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	287,500
Senior notes	287,500
Interest rate on notes	0.50%
Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	350,000
Senior notes	350,000
Interest rate on notes	4.00%
Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Supplemental Guarantor Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Issued Senior Notes	250,000
Senior notes	$250,000
Interest rate on notes	5.63%

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa3

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details 1) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$532,157,000		$586,315,000	$351,821,000		$772,972,000
Marketable securities	10,015,000		12,026,000
Restricted cash	17,962,000		18,342,000
Inventory	6,724,343,000		6,490,321,000
Property, construction and office equipment, net	141,143,000		143,010,000
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	258,958,000		251,572,000
Mortgage loans held for sale	80,864,000		101,944,000
Customer deposits held in escrow	44,399,000		42,073,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	467,259,000		447,078,000
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	65,938,000		73,800,000
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0		0
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	244,643,000		250,421,000
Total assets	8,587,681,000		8,416,902,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable	674,817,000		654,261,000
Senior notes	2,655,798,000		2,655,044,000
Mortgage company loan facility	70,052,000		90,281,000
Customer deposits	275,347,000		223,799,000
Accounts payable	233,675,000		225,347,000
Accrued expenses	586,411,000		581,477,000
Advances from Affiliiate	0		0
Income taxes payable	37,641,000		125,996,000
Total liabilities	4,533,741,000		4,556,205,000
Equity:
Common stock	1,779,000		1,779,000
Additional paid-in capital	722,303,000		712,162,000
Retained earnings	3,381,290,000		3,232,035,000
Treasury stock, at cost	-55,980,000		-88,762,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-3,051,000	-3,021,000	-2,838,000	-2,030,000	-2,124,000	-2,387,000
Total stockholders' equity	4,046,341,000		3,854,376,000
Noncontrolling interest	7,599,000		6,321,000
Total equity	4,053,940,000		3,860,697,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	8,587,681,000		8,416,902,000
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	15,206,000		15,211,000
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	56,000
Mortgage loans held for sale
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	3,824,138,000		3,714,788,000
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	244,643,000		250,421,000
Total assets	4,084,043,000		3,980,420,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company loan facility
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable	37,641,000		125,996,000
Total liabilities	37,641,000		125,996,000
Equity:
Common stock	1,779,000		1,779,000
Additional paid-in capital	722,303,000		712,162,000
Retained earnings	3,381,290,000		3,232,035,000
Treasury stock, at cost	-55,980,000		-88,762,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-2,990,000		-2,790,000
Total stockholders' equity	4,046,402,000		3,854,424,000
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	4,046,402,000		3,854,424,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,084,043,000		3,980,420,000
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	15,029,000		16,802,000
Mortgage loans held for sale
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,681,738,000		2,677,448,000
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	2,696,767,000		2,694,250,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	2,631,124,000		2,625,712,000
Mortgage company loan facility
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	31,906,000		31,906,000
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,663,030,000		2,657,618,000
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	49,400,000		49,400,000
Retained earnings	-15,663,000		-12,768,000
Treasury stock, at cost
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	33,737,000		36,632,000
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	33,737,000		36,632,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,696,767,000		2,694,250,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	389,236,000		455,714,000	235,689,000		670,102,000
Marketable securities			1,997,000
Restricted cash	1,297,000		2,070,000
Inventory	6,417,066,000		6,260,303,000
Property, construction and office equipment, net	123,887,000		126,586,000
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	156,260,000		114,863,000
Mortgage loans held for sale
Customer deposits held in escrow	42,241,000		39,912,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	125,691,000		132,096,000
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	4,740,000		4,740,000
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	7,260,418,000		7,138,281,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable	674,817,000		653,269,000
Senior notes
Mortgage company loan facility
Customer deposits	266,530,000		221,084,000
Accounts payable	233,509,000		225,106,000
Accrued expenses	377,933,000		386,223,000
Advances from Affiliiate	1,946,002,000		2,018,981,000
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	3,498,791,000		3,504,663,000
Equity:
Common stock	48,000		48,000
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings	3,761,640,000		3,633,618,000
Treasury stock, at cost
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-61,000		-48,000
Total stockholders' equity	3,761,627,000		3,633,618,000
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,761,627,000		3,633,618,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	7,260,418,000		7,138,281,000
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	142,921,000		130,601,000	116,132,000		102,870,000
Marketable securities	10,015,000		10,029,000
Restricted cash	1,459,000		1,061,000
Inventory	307,277,000		230,018,000
Property, construction and office equipment, net	17,256,000		16,424,000
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	118,588,000		137,496,000
Mortgage loans held for sale	80,864,000		101,944,000
Customer deposits held in escrow	2,158,000		2,161,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	341,568,000		314,982,000
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	65,938,000		73,800,000
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	1,088,044,000		1,018,516,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable			992,000
Senior notes
Mortgage company loan facility	70,052,000		90,281,000
Customer deposits	8,817,000		2,715,000
Accounts payable	166,000		241,000
Accrued expenses	209,217,000		181,649,000
Advances from Affiliiate	751,619,000		708,167,000
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	1,039,871,000		984,045,000
Equity:
Common stock	3,006,000		3,006,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,734,000		1,734,000
Retained earnings	35,834,000		23,410,000
Treasury stock, at cost
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	40,574,000		28,150,000
Noncontrolling interest	7,599,000		6,321,000
Total equity	48,173,000		34,471,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,088,044,000		1,018,516,000
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	-30,975,000		-17,589,000
Mortgage loans held for sale
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	-6,510,616,000		-6,396,976,000
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	-6,541,591,000		-6,414,565,000
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	24,674,000		29,332,000
Mortgage company loan facility
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	-32,645,000		-18,301,000
Advances from Affiliiate	-2,697,621,000		-2,727,148,000
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	-2,705,592,000		-2,716,117,000
Equity:
Common stock	-3,054,000		-3,054,000
Additional paid-in capital	-51,134,000		-51,134,000
Retained earnings	-3,781,811,000		-3,644,260,000
Treasury stock, at cost
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	-3,835,999,000		-3,698,448,000
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	-3,835,999,000		-3,698,448,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	($6,541,591,000)		($6,414,565,000)

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa4

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 IS) (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	$852,583	$860,374	$1,706,035	$1,504,055
Cost of revenues	678,512	687,998	1,328,544	1,202,030
Selling, general and administrative	107,685	104,320	213,999	202,190
Total	786,197	792,318	1,542,543	1,404,220
Income (loss) from operations	66,386	68,056	163,492	99,835
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	6,227	14,327	11,128	37,242
Other income - net	13,919	11,101	35,935	27,642
Intercompany interest income	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense	0	0	0	0
Income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	86,532	93,484	210,555	164,719
Income tax provision (benefit)	18,602	28,262	61,300	53,917
Net income (loss)	67,930	65,222	149,255	110,802
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-30	94	-213	357
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	67,900	65,316	149,042	111,159
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative	23	14	37	69
Total	23	14	37	69
Income (loss) from operations	-23	-14	-37	-69
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net	2,300	2,295	4,670	4,660
Intercompany interest income
Interest Expense
Income from subsidiaries	84,255	91,203	205,922	160,128
Income (loss) before income taxes	86,532	93,484	210,555	164,719
Income tax provision (benefit)	18,602	28,262	61,300	53,917
Net income (loss)	67,930	65,222	149,255	110,802
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-23	103	-201	156
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	67,907	65,325	149,054	110,958
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative	914	928	1,822	1,865
Total	914	928	1,822	1,865
Income (loss) from operations	-914	-928	-1,822	-1,865
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net
Intercompany interest income	36,200	37,963	72,393	76,107
Interest Expense	-37,576	-39,325	-75,228	-78,899
Income from subsidiaries
Income (loss) before income taxes	-2,290	-2,290	-4,657	-4,657
Income tax provision (benefit)	-871	-823	-1,762	-1,751
Net income (loss)	-1,419	-1,467	-2,895	-2,906
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	-1,419	-1,467	-2,895	-2,906
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	861,896	869,305	1,724,050	1,520,077
Cost of revenues	680,515	690,656	1,332,727	1,206,293
Selling, general and administrative	114,151	110,947	226,194	213,647
Total	794,666	801,603	1,558,921	1,419,940
Income (loss) from operations	67,230	67,702	165,129	100,137
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	2,712	13,371	7,434	37,578
Other income - net	7,800	7,243	18,033	17,815
Intercompany interest income
Interest Expense
Income from subsidiaries	6,513	2,887	15,326	4,598
Income (loss) before income taxes	84,255	91,203	205,922	160,128
Income tax provision (benefit)	32,093	33,212	77,900	60,224
Net income (loss)	52,162	57,991	128,022	99,904
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-7	-11	-12	189
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	52,155	57,980	128,010	100,093
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	17,550	17,665	33,152	33,267
Cost of revenues	1,429	1,457	3,095	4,059
Selling, general and administrative	13,701	12,799	27,090	26,436
Total	15,130	14,256	30,185	30,495
Income (loss) from operations	2,420	3,409	2,967	2,772
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	3,515	956	3,694	-336
Other income - net	3,003	1,008	13,588	7,208
Intercompany interest income
Interest Expense	-135	-196	-266	-389
Income from subsidiaries
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,803	5,177	19,983	9,255
Income tax provision (benefit)	3,349	1,883	7,559	3,481
Net income (loss)	5,454	3,294	12,424	5,774
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax		2		12
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	5,454	3,296	12,424	5,786
Eliminations [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	-26,863	-26,596	-51,167	-49,289
Cost of revenues	-3,432	-4,115	-7,278	-8,322
Selling, general and administrative	-21,104	-20,368	-41,144	-39,827
Total	-24,536	-24,483	-48,422	-48,149
Income (loss) from operations	-2,327	-2,113	-2,745	-1,140
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net	816	555	-356	-2,041
Intercompany interest income	-36,200	-37,963	-72,393	-76,107
Interest Expense	37,711	39,521	75,494	79,288
Income from subsidiaries	-90,768	-94,090	-221,248	-164,726
Income (loss) before income taxes	-90,768	-94,090	-221,248	-164,726
Income tax provision (benefit)	-34,571	-34,272	-83,697	-61,954
Net income (loss)	-56,197	-59,818	-137,551	-102,772
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	($56,197)	($59,818)	($137,551)	($102,772)

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa5

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 3) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	($37,942)	($66,185)
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	-5,884	-5,767
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	2,000	39,243
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	-27,705	-80,654
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	10,637	39,014
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	-1,697	-757
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	14,592	22,424
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest	3,848
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired		-1,489,116
Proceeds from Dividends Received		0
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-4,209	-1,475,613
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		600,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs		-4,700
Proceeds from Notes Payable	529,053	1,597,562
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable		-3,005
Principal payments of loans payable	-572,838	-1,046,677
Repayments of Senior Debt		267,960
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		220,357
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	34,057	23,333
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	3,045	1,841
Purchase of treasury stock	-6,616	-185
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	1,292	81
Payments of Dividends		0
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-12,007	1,120,647
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-54,158	-421,151
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	586,315	772,972
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	532,157	351,821
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	-48,714	44,258
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	18,228	-289,604
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	18,228	-289,604
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs
Proceeds from Notes Payable
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		220,357
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	34,057	23,333
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	3,045	1,841
Purchase of treasury stock	-6,616	-185
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	30,486	245,346
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0	0
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	4,290	15,152
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	-4,290	-342,492
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-4,290	-342,492
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		600,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs		-4,700
Proceeds from Notes Payable
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Senior Debt		267,960
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	327,340
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	15,173	-87,965
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	-5,037	-5,718
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	2,000	39,243
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	-2,253	-13,602
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	5,797	35,714
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest	3,848
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired		-1,489,116
Proceeds from Dividends Received		15,000
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	4,355	-1,418,479
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs
Proceeds from Notes Payable		1,141,300
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable		-3,005
Principal payments of loans payable	-22,556	-572,257
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	-63,450	505,993
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-86,006	1,072,031
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-66,478	-434,413
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	455,714	670,102
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	389,236	235,689
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	-2,631	-27,401
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	-847	-49
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	-25,452	-67,052
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	4,840	3,300
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	-1,697	-757
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	14,592	22,424
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-8,564	-42,134
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs
Proceeds from Notes Payable	529,053	456,262
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable
Principal payments of loans payable	-550,282	-474,420
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	1,292	81
Payments of Dividends		-15,000
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	43,452	115,874
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	23,515	82,797
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	12,320	13,262
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	130,601	102,870
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	142,921	116,132
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	-6,060	-10,229
Cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Net increase in cash from purchase of joint venture interest
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received		-15,000
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	-13,938	632,096
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-13,938	617,096
Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs
Proceeds from Notes Payable
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Notes Payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends		15,000
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	19,998	-621,867
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	19,998	-606,867
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$0	$0

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa6

Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 Textuals) (Details)	Apr. 30, 2015
Entity Information [Line Items]
Supplemental Guarantor Information, consolidated net worth of released guarantor subsidiary	5.00%
supplemental guarantor information, consolidated net worth of all released guarantor subsidiaries	10.00%
supplemental guarantor information, consolidated net worth, all released guarantor subs, default cure	15.00%
Guarantor Subsidiary Release From Guaranty [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Company, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Company, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%