DEBT, NOTES PAYABLE AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT OBLIGATIONS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible note payable dated June 7, 2011, secured by substantially all Company assets, bears contractual annual interest at 17%, of which 12% is payable in cash and 5% may be deferred, matures June 2016, carrying amount net of discount of $5.4 million and $7.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	$ 54,975,000	$ 49,961,000
Notes Payable	46,043,000	9,378,000
Exit fee payable in connection with $50 million convertible note payable dated June 7, 2011, matures June 2016, related discount being amortized into convertible loan balance	10,448,000	10,448,000
Note dated December 31, 2009, secured by residential lots, non-interest bearing (12% imputed interest), matured December 31, 2012, unamortized discount of $0 at December 31, 2013 and 2012. In accordance with bankruptcy ruling, $3.1 million of principal is subject to 5% annual interest commencing October 1, 2012	5,220,000	5,220,000
Liens secured by residential property acquired in 2013 in connection with a guarantor settlement	3,787,000	0
Community facility district bonds dated 2005, secured by residential land located in Buckeye, Arizona, annual interest rate ranging from 5%-6%, matures April 30, 2030	3,465,000	3,699,000
Special assessment bonds dated between 2002 and 2007, secured by residential land located in Dakota County, Minnesota, annual interest rate ranging from 6%-7.5%, maturing various dates through 2022	1,874,000	2,332,000
Note dated September 26, 2012 secured by commercial land with a carrying value of $1.3 million, bears annual interest at 4%, matures September 26, 2015.	0	850,000
Total	116,805,000	75,818,000
Note Payable in Connection with Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure Acquisition [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes Payable	24,618,000	0
Note Payable Dated February 15, 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes Payable	10,000,000	0
Settlement Payable in Conjunction with Apple Valley, Minnesota Development Project [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes Payable	2,268,000	3,308,000
Development Assistance Note Payable to Apple Valley Economic Development Authority [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes Payable	$ 150,000	$ 0