Investment in Unconsolidated Ventures - Summarized Income Statement Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 8,895	$ 9,276
Earnings (loss)	3,669	759
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	991	913
242, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	1,475	1,634
Earnings (loss)	533	483
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	277	258
CJUF III, RH Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	363	0
Earnings (loss)	(213)	(116)
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	(213)	(116)
CL Ashton Woods [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	708	1,472
Earnings (loss)	220	257
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	318	577
CL Realty [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	368	428
Earnings (loss)	230	236
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	115	118
CREA FMF [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Earnings (loss)	(25)	0
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	(25)	0
FMF Peakview [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Earnings (loss)	(73)	(32)
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	(15)	(6)
HM Stonewall Estates [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	1,001	0
Earnings (loss)	352	(25)
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	141	(6)
LM Land Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	4,898	1,311
Earnings (loss)	2,927	599
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	677	168
PSW Communities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Earnings (loss)	(216)	0
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	(189)	0
Temco [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	60	69
Earnings (loss)	(18)	(12)
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	(9)	(6)
Other ventures [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	22	4,362
Earnings (loss)	(48)	(631)
Our Share of Earnings (Loss)	$ (86)	$ (74)