Investment in Unconsolidated Ventures - Summarized Income Statement Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 16,372	$ 8,895
Earnings (loss)	5,310	3,669
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	3,045	991
242, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	5,331	1,475
Earnings (loss)	3,464	533
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	1,766	277
CL Ashton Woods [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	1,350	708
Earnings (loss)	527	220
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	678	318
CL Realty [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	279	368
Earnings (loss)	160	230
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	80	115
CREA FMF [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	6	0
Earnings (loss)	(113)	(25)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	(113)	(25)
Elan 99, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Earnings (loss)	(2)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	(2)	0
FMF Peakview [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	186	0
Earnings (loss)	(482)	(73)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	(96)	(15)
HM Stonewall Estates [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	1,058	1,001
Earnings (loss)	515	352
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	230	141
LM Land Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	1,976	4,898
Earnings (loss)	1,250	2,927
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	364	677
PSW Communities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	2,427	0
Earnings (loss)	195	(216)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	173	(189)
Temco [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	58	60
Earnings (loss)	(1)	(18)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	0	(9)
Other ventures [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues	3,701	385
Earnings (loss)	(203)	(261)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	$ (35)	$ (299)