Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forestar Group Inc., all subsidiaries, ventures and other entities in which we have a controlling interest. We account for our investment in other entities in which we have significant influence over operations and financial policies using the equity method. We eliminate all material intercompany accounts and transactions. Noncontrolling interests in consolidated pass-through entities are recognized before income taxes. We prepare our unaudited interim financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for interim financial statements. As a result, they do not include all the information and disclosures required for complete financial statements. However, in our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items unless otherwise noted. We make estimates and assumptions about future events. Actual results can, and probably will, differ from those we currently estimate including those principally related to allocating costs to real estate and measuring long-lived assets for impairment. These interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. For further information, please read the financial statements included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. At year-end 2016, we had divested substantially all of our oil and gas working interest properties. As a result of this significant change in our operations, we have reported the results of operations and financial position of these assets as discontinued operations within the consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) and consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented.

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forestar Group Inc., all subsidiaries, ventures and other entities in which we have a controlling interest. We account for our investment in other entities in which we have significant influence over operations and financial policies using the equity method. We eliminate all material intercompany accounts and transactions. Noncontrolling interests in consolidated pass-through entities are recognized before income taxes.

We prepare our unaudited interim financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for interim financial statements. As a result, they do not include all the information and disclosures required for complete financial statements. However, in our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items unless otherwise noted. We make estimates and assumptions about future events. Actual results can, and probably will, differ from those we currently estimate including those principally related to allocating costs to real estate and measuring long-lived assets for impairment. These interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. For further information, please read the financial statements included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

At year-end 2016, we had divested substantially all of our oil and gas working interest properties. As a result of this significant change in our operations, we have reported the results of operations and financial position of these assets as discontinued operations within the consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) and consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented.