CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
REVENUES
Real estate sales and other	$ 112,655	$ 176,535	$ 120,022
Commercial and income producing properties	91	13,738	82,808
Real estate	112,746	190,273	202,830
Mineral resources	1,502	5,076	9,094
Other	74	1,965	6,652
Total revenues	114,322	197,314	218,576
COST AND EXPENSES
Cost of real estate sales and other	(65,012)	(147,653)	(52,640)
Cost of commercial and income producing properties	(2)	(15,442)	(61,251)
Cost of mineral resources	(38,315)	(763)	(2,998)
Cost of other	(6,450)	(5,075)	(3,081)
Other operating	(21,658)	(33,177)	(48,996)
General and administrative	(56,531)	(21,597)	(27,253)
Total cost and expenses	(187,968)	(223,707)	(196,219)
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS	113,411	166,747	1,585
OPERATING INCOME	39,765	140,354	23,942
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures	17,899	6,123	16,008
Interest expense	(8,532)	(19,985)	(34,066)
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	(611)	(35,864)	0
Other non-operating income	3,600	1,718	3,006
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES	52,121	92,346	8,890
Income tax expense	(45,820)	(15,302)	(35,131)
NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	6,301	77,044	(26,241)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES	46,031	(16,865)	(186,130)
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME (LOSS)	52,332	60,179	(212,371)
Less: Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,078)	(1,531)	(676)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO FORESTAR GROUP INC.	$ 50,254	$ 58,648	$ (213,047)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (shares)	42,143	34,546	34,266
Diluted (shares)	42,381	42,334	34,266
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER BASIC SHARE
Continuing operations, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.10	$ 1.80	$ (0.79)
Discontinued operations, basic (usd per share)	1.09	(0.40)	(5.43)
Basic (usd per share)	1.19	1.40	(6.22)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER DILUTED SHARE
Continuing operations, diluted (usd per share)	0.10	1.78	(0.79)
Discontinued operations, diluted (usd per share)	1.09	(0.40)	(5.43)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 1.19	$ 1.38	$ (6.22)