Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forestar Group Inc. ("Forestar"), 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. 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 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We divested substantially all of our oil and gas working interest properties in 2016, and as a result we have reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. There was no significant activity related to these operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. The transactions included in our net income in the consolidated statements of operations are the same as those that would be presented in comprehensive income. Thus, our net income equates to comprehensive income. On October 5, 2017, we became a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, Inc. ("D.R. Horton") by virtue of a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton (the "Merger"). Immediately following the Merger, D.R. Horton owned 75% of our outstanding common stock. In connection with the Merger, we entered into certain agreements with D.R. Horton including a Stockholder’s Agreement, a Master Supply Agreement, and a Shared Services Agreement. For a discussion of the terms of the Merger and for additional information regarding these agreements, see "Business - D.R. Horton Merger" in Part I, Item 1 of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. D.R. Horton is considered a related party of Forestar under U.S. GAAP. Reclassifications Certain items have been reclassified from other operating expenses to cost of real estate in the prior year financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. We have reclassified the change in earnest money deposits in the prior year statement of cash flows from change in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities to change in earnest money deposits to conform to classifications used in the current year. These reclassifications had no effect on our consolidated operating results or balance sheet. Change in Fiscal Year As a result of the Merger, we changed our fiscal year-end from December 31 to September 30, effective January 1, 2018. This change aligns our fiscal year-end reporting calendar with D.R. Horton.

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forestar Group Inc. ("Forestar"), 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. 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 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We divested substantially all of our oil and gas working interest properties in 2016, and as a result we have reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. There was no significant activity related to these operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.

The transactions included in our net income in the consolidated statements of operations are the same as those that would be presented in comprehensive income. Thus, our net income equates to comprehensive income.

On October 5, 2017, we became a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, Inc. ("D.R. Horton") by virtue of a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton (the "Merger"). Immediately following the Merger, D.R. Horton owned 75% of our outstanding common stock. In connection with the Merger, we entered into certain agreements with D.R. Horton including a Stockholder’s Agreement, a Master Supply Agreement, and a Shared Services Agreement. For a discussion of the terms of the Merger and for additional information regarding these agreements, see "Business - D.R. Horton Merger" in Part I, Item 1 of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. D.R. Horton is considered a related party of Forestar under U.S. GAAP.

Reclassifications

Certain items have been reclassified from other operating expenses to cost of real estate in the prior year financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. We have reclassified the change in earnest money deposits in the prior year statement of cash flows from change in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities to change in earnest money deposits to conform to classifications used in the current year. These reclassifications had no effect on our consolidated operating results or balance sheet.

Change in Fiscal Year

As a result of the Merger, we changed our fiscal year-end from December 31 to September 30, effective January 1, 2018. This change aligns our fiscal year-end reporting calendar with D.R. Horton.