CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
REVENUES
Real estate sales and other	$ 120,022	$ 171,672	$ 152,684
Commercial and income producing properties	82,808	41,440	95,327
Real estate	202,830	213,112	248,011
Oil and gas	52,939	84,300	72,313
Other natural resources	6,652	9,362	10,721
Total revenues	262,421	306,774	331,045
COST AND EXPENSES
Cost of real estate sales and other	(52,640)	(86,432)	(76,628)
Cost of commercial and income producing properties	(61,251)	(37,332)	(80,166)
Cost of oil and gas producing activities	(224,400)	(98,371)	(42,067)
Cost of other natural resources	(3,081)	(3,006)	(2,033)
Other operating	(59,359)	(58,683)	(60,359)
General and administrative	(27,253)	(22,230)	(28,376)
Total expenses	(427,984)	(306,054)	(289,629)
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS	879	38,038	5,161
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(164,684)	38,758	46,577
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	16,008	8,685	8,737
Interest expense	(34,066)	(30,286)	(20,004)
Other non-operating income	3,006	8,588	6,959
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	(179,736)	25,745	42,269
Income tax expense	(32,635)	(8,657)	(7,208)
Net income	(212,371)	17,088	35,061
Less: Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(676)	(505)	(5,740)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO FORESTAR GROUP INC.	$ (213,047)	$ 16,583	$ 29,321
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (usd per share)	34,266	35,317	35,365
Diluted (usd per share)	34,266	43,596	36,813
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (usd per share)	$ (6.22)	$ 0.38	$ 0.81
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (6.22)	$ 0.38	$ 0.80
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO FORESTAR GROUP INC.	$ (213,047)	$ 16,583	$ 29,321