CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net income	$ 17,088,000	$ 35,061,000	$ 17,876,000
Adjustments:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	41,715,000	29,980,000	18,926,000
Change in deferred income taxes	1,645,000	5,389,000	(6,506,000)
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	0	(6,251,000)	151,000
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated ventures	(8,685,000)	(8,737,000)	(14,469,000)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated ventures	5,721,000	6,360,000	3,251,000
Proceeds from consolidated ventures’ sale of assets, net	0	0	24,294,000
Share-based compensation	3,417,000	16,809,000	14,929,000
Real estate cost of sales	84,665,000	104,899,000	39,360,000
Dry hole and unproved leasehold impairment costs	29,528,000	5,837,000	1,069,000
Real estate development and acquisition expenditures, net	(114,694,000)	(106,609,000)	(91,940,000)
Reimbursements from utility and improvement districts	66,047,000	9,945,000	8,524,000
Other changes in real estate	3,537,000	3,146,000	1,384,000
Changes in deferred income	143,000	(2,246,000)	1,070,000
Asset impairments	15,934,000	1,790,000	0
Gain on sale of assets	(38,038,000)	(5,161,000)	(25,983,000)
Other	2,207,000	1,491,000	(21,000)
Changes in:
Notes and accounts receivables	10,704,000	(3,864,000)	(1,132,000)
Prepaid expenses and other	2,180,000	(795,000)	(2,560,000)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(4,653,000)	(1,557,000)	(2,527,000)
Income taxes	(11,379,000)	3,290,000	(7,914,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	107,082,000	88,777,000	(22,218,000)
Statement [Line Items]
Property, equipment, software, reforestation and other	(16,398,000)	(11,828,000)	(2,735,000)
Oil and gas properties and equipment	(101,145,000)	(96,069,000)	(21,416,000)
Acquisition of partner's interest in unconsolidated multifamily venture, net of cash	(20,155,000)
Acquisition of oil and gas properties	(1,100,000)	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated ventures	(14,692,000)	(857,000)	(2,318,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	21,962,000	1,333,000	0
Return of investment in unconsolidated ventures	1,797,000	3,494,000	12,654,000
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	0	(152,915,000)
Proceeds from sale of multifamily property	0	0	29,474,000
Proceeds from sale of venture interest	0	0	32,095,000
Other	0	0	42,000
Net cash (used for) investing activities	(129,731,000)	(103,927,000)	(105,119,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net	0	120,795,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured notes, net	241,947,000	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of tangible equity units, net	0	144,998,000	0
Payments of debt	(225,481,000)	(106,076,000)	(74,226,000)
Additions to debt	22,593,000	43,911,000	203,642,000
Deferred financing fees	(3,217,000)	(438,000)	(5,883,000)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(3,146,000)	(7,154,000)	(3,266,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(7,971,000)	0	0
Exercise of stock options	1,206,000	2,106,000	1,159,000
Repurchases of common stock	(24,595,000)	0	(1,409,000)
Payroll taxes on restricted stock and stock options	(1,043,000)	(1,137,000)	(968,000)
Excess income tax benefit from share-based compensation	176,000	91,000	366,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	469,000	197,096,000	119,415,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(22,180,000)	181,946,000	(7,922,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	192,307,000	10,361,000	18,283,000
Cash and cash equivalents at year-end	170,127,000	192,307,000	10,361,000
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	22,936,000	13,818,000	12,820,000
Income taxes	18,322,000	4,955,000	21,678,000
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INFORMATION:
Capitalized interest	1,154,000	816,000	721,000
Noncontrolling interests	2,904,000	2,907,000	1,032,000
Multi Family Property [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Acquisition of partner's interest in unconsolidated multifamily venture, net of cash		$ 0	$ 0