Investment In Unconsolidated Ventures - Summarized Income Statement Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										$ 42,443		$ 51,983		$ 33,148
Earnings (Loss)										25,288		16,662		15,891
Our share of earnings (loss)	4,720	[1]	2,016	958	991	2,133	3,125	2,566	913	8,685		8,737		14,469
242, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										5,612	[2]	6,269	[2]	4,868	[2]
Earnings (Loss)										2,951	[2]	1,512	[2]	1,040	[2]
Our share of earnings (loss)										1,514	[2]	805	[2]	572	[2]
CJUF III, RH Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										2,168	[3]	120	[3]	0	[3]
Earnings (Loss)										(956)	[3]	(652)	[3]	(241)	[3]
Our share of earnings (loss)										(956)	[3]	(652)	[3]	(241)	[3]
CL Ashton Woods [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										5,431	[4]	9,018	[4]	3,353	[4]
Earnings (Loss)										1,748	[4]	2,660	[4]	1,472	[4]
Our share of earnings (loss)										2,471	[4]	4,169	[4]	2,024	[4]
CL Realty [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										1,573		1,603		2,667
Earnings (Loss)										1,068		1,028		1,060
Our share of earnings (loss)										534		514		530
CREA FMF [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Earnings (Loss)										(163)	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Our share of earnings (loss)										(163)	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Elan 99 LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										0		0		0
Earnings (Loss)										(87)		0		0
Our share of earnings (loss)										(78)		0		0
FMF Littleton [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										0		0		0
Earnings (Loss)										(239)		0		0
Our share of earnings (loss)										(60)		0		0
FMF Peakview [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										4		1		0
Earnings (Loss)										(410)		(252)		(116)
Our share of earnings (loss)										(83)		(50)		(23)
HM Stonewall Estates [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										1,728	[4]	2,922	[4]	2,500	[4]
Earnings (Loss)										613	[4]	1,082	[4]	829	[4]
Our share of earnings (loss)										248	[4]	452	[4]	332	[4]
LM Land Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										21,980	[4]	25,426	[4]	10,268	[4]
Earnings (Loss)										15,520	[4]	11,012	[4]	1,895	[4]
Our share of earnings (loss)										4,827	[4]	3,418	[4]	257	[4]
PSW Communities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										0		0		0
Earnings (Loss)										(86)		0		0
Our share of earnings (loss)										(76)		0		0
Temco [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										2,155		630		702
Earnings (Loss)										494		96		(80)
Our share of earnings (loss)										247		48		(40)
Other Ventures [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues										1,792	[5]	5,994	[5]	8,790	[5]
Earnings (Loss)										4,835	[5]	176	[5]	10,032	[5]
Our share of earnings (loss)										$ 260	[5]	$ 33	[5]	$ 11,058	[5]

[1] Fourth quarter 2014 results include pre-tax non-cash impairment charges of $30,591,000 for unproved leasehold interests and proved oil and gas properties.

[2] Includes unamortized deferred gains on real estate contributed by us to ventures. We recognize deferred gains as income as real estate is sold to third parties. Deferred gains of $1,621,000 are reflected as a reduction to our investment in unconsolidated ventures at year-end 2014.

[3] In 2014, we acquired full ownership in the Eleven venture for $21,500,000. The acquisition-date fair value was $55,275,000, including debt of $23,936,000. Our investment in the Eleven venture prior to acquiring our partner’s interest was $2,229,000. At year-end 2014, we no longer have an equity method investment in the Eleven venture.

[4] Includes unrecognized basis difference of $1,517,000 which is reflected as a reduction of our investment in unconsolidated ventures at year-end 2014. This difference between estimated fair value of the equity investment and our capital account within the respective ventures at closing will be accreted as income or expense over the life of the investment and included in our share of earnings (loss) from the respective ventures.

[5] In 2012, other ventures earnings include $5,307,000 related to a consolidated venture’s share of the gain associated with Round Rock Luxury Apartment's sale of Las Brisas. Our share of these earnings was $2,541,000 and we allocated $2,766,000 to net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.