Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,283	$ 5,366
Real estate	565,367	561,652
Assets held for sale	0	21,122
Investment in unconsolidated ventures	64,223	101,166
Timber	14,240	17,959
Receivables, net of allowance for bad debts of $62 in 2011 and $144 in 2010	23,281	3,415
Prepaid expenses	2,931	2,034
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $5,164 in 2011 and $4,271 in 2010	5,178	5,577
Oil and natural gas properties and equipment, net of accumulated depletion of $155 in 2011 and $134 in 2010	4,561	322
Deferred tax asset	72,942	47,141
Goodwill and other intangible assets	5,451	6,527
Other assets	18,400	17,043
TOTAL ASSETS	794,857	789,324
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	5,044	4,214
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	1,421	994
Accrued property taxes	4,986	3,662
Accrued interest	1,086	1,061
Income taxes payable	8,501	3,293
Other accrued expenses	7,716	8,168
Other liabilities	33,304	32,064
Debt	221,587	221,589
TOTAL LIABILITIES	283,645	275,045
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Forestar Group Inc. shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 25,000,000 authorized shares, none issued
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share, 200,000,000 authorized shares, 36,835,732 issued at December 31, 2011 and 36,667,210 issued at December 31, 2010	36,836	36,667
Additional paid-in capital	398,517	391,352
Retained earnings	108,155	101,001
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,212,876 shares at December 31, 2011 and 1,216,647 shares at December 31, 2010	(33,982)	(19,456)
Total Forestar Group Inc. shareholders' equity	509,526	509,564
Noncontrolling interests	1,686	4,715
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	511,212	514,279
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 794,857	$ 789,324