Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets [Line Items]
Real estate and improvements	$ 9,914		$ 9,914		$ 10,574
Residential real estate and home construction inventories	384,748		384,748		322,938
Other real estate inventories completed or under development	10,000		10,000		10,308
Water and Water Rights	42,518		42,518		42,530
Total real estate and tangible water assets	447,180		447,180		386,350
Asset impairment charge					3,500
Accumulated amortization	11,558		11,558		10,899
Loss on real estate			274		2,865
Water resource and water storage operations
Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets [Line Items]
Water and Water Rights					0
Real Estate Operations
Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets [Line Items]
Other real estate inventories completed or under development					1,400
Loss on real estate					$ 2,900
Leasehold Improvements
Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets [Line Items]
Amortization	$ 219	$ 219	$ 659	$ 659