Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 77,044	$ 56,742	$ 175,718	$ 146,168
Impairment on investments			(20,696)
Other income	$ 1,047	$ 2,416	3,501	$ 6,963
Total revenues and other income	78,091	59,158	158,523	153,131
Cost of sales:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	60,626	46,604	142,566	119,260
Expenses:
Operating and other costs	14,986	$ 16,649	47,034	47,320
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets	727		2,090	2,865
Depreciation and amortization	653	$ 894	1,649	2,126
Total cost of sales and expenses	76,992	64,147	193,339	171,571
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	1,099	(4,989)	(34,816)	(18,440)
Provision (benefit) for federal, foreign, and state income taxes	22	(179)	(2,949)	(535)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(1,942)	(410)	(3,422)	(1,569)
Loss from continuing operations	(865)	(5,220)	(35,289)	(19,474)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(10,225)	$ (5,221)	(29,520)	$ (4,962)
Loss on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax (1)	(1,348)		(18,251)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(11,573)	$ (5,221)	(47,771)	$ (4,962)
Net loss	(12,438)	(10,441)	(83,060)	(24,436)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,654)	504	2,373	3,091
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(14,092)	(9,937)	(80,687)	(21,345)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net loss	(12,438)	(10,441)	(83,060)	(24,436)
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	12	(767)	295	(337)
Foreign currency translation	(48)	247	(85)	245
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(36)	(520)	210	(92)
Comprehensive loss	(12,474)	(10,961)	(82,850)	(24,528)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,654)	504	2,373	3,091
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (14,128)	$ (10,457)	$ (80,477)	$ (21,437)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted ($ per share)
Loss from continuing operations	$ (0.11)	$ (0.24)	$ (1.51)	$ (0.75)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations	(0.50)	(0.20)	(2.00)	(0.19)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted	$ (0.61)	$ (0.44)	$ (3.51)	$ (0.94)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted (number of shares)	23,017	22,770	23,010	22,757