CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings/ Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock, at Cost	Non- controlling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 478,496	$ 26	$ 526,591	$ 5,215	$ (2,014)	$ (56,593)	$ 5,271
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		25,807
Beginning balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2012						3,073
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest / withholding taxes paid on vested restricted stock units at UCP, Inc.	107,320		14,985				92,335
Stock-based compensation expense	5,977		4,731				1,246
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		14
Net loss	(29,194)			(22,298)			(6,896)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	2,411				2,411
Foreign currency translation	(165)				(165)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	564,845	$ 26	546,307	(17,083)	232	$ (56,593)	91,956
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		25,821
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2013						3,073
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense	7,093		5,228				1,865
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		247
Exercise of restricted stock units	(5,736)		(4,919)				(817)
Retirement of treasury stock	0	$ (3)	(54,954)			$ 54,957
Retirement of treasury stock, shares		(2,985)				(2,985)
Sale of treasury stock, shares						(10)
Sale of treasury stock	223					$ 223
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	240						240
Net loss	(59,605)			(52,425)			(7,180)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(2,093)				(2,093)
Foreign currency translation	6,578				6,578
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 511,545	$ 23	491,662	(69,508)	4,717	$ (1,413)	86,064
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	23,083	23,083
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2014	78					78
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest / withholding taxes paid on vested restricted stock units at UCP, Inc.	$ (496)		(337)				(159)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,616		$ 2,882				$ 734
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		33
Exercise of restricted stock units	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(26)						$ (26)
Net loss	(80,879)			(81,858)			979
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	292				292
Foreign currency translation	(48)				(48)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 434,004	$ 23	$ 494,207	$ (151,366)	$ 4,961	$ (1,413)	$ 87,592
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	23,116	23,116
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2015	78					78