CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (13,029)	$ (80,879)	$ (59,605)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Benefit for deferred income taxes	(6,398)	(2,913)	(3,315)
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,496	2,212	3,054
Stock-based compensation expense	4,005	3,616	7,067
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate	2,170	20,696	1,078
Impairment loss on goodwill	4,223
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets	2,790	3,282	13,084
Gain on sale of available-for-sale investments	(133)	(1,101)	(4,733)
Loss on abandonment or liquidation of consolidated subsidiary	1,968		9,336
Loss from discontinued operations, net	1,377	49,268	14,074
Fair value adjustment of contingent consideration	(2,347)	(1,195)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(8,605)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate		3,422	2,076
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Notes and other receivables	(3,832)	227	(785)
Real estate, water, and intangible assets	(9,890)	(40,235)	(132,005)
Income taxes	(78)		3,624
Other assets	1,182	(204)	(2,613)
Deferred compensation	2,685	909	423
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	16,530	11,311	2,628
Other operating activities, net	43	94	(75)
Cash used in operating activities - continuing operations	(5,843)	(31,490)	(146,687)
Cash used in operating activities - discontinued agribusiness operations	(509)	(17,433)	(1,405)
Net cash used in operating activities	(6,352)	(48,923)	(148,092)
Investing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of investments	1,068	7,938	31,036
Proceeds from maturity of investments	18	1,343
Purchases of investments	(1,511)	(2,316)	(11,046)
Increase in restricted deposits	(1,297)		(250)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	8,988
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(318)	(3,108)	(5,270)
Cash used in the acquisition of a consolidated subsidiary			(14,006)
Other investing activities, net	661	213	40
Cash provided by investing activities - continuing operations	7,609	4,070	504
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued agribusiness operations	8	102,523	(5,396)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	7,617	106,593	(4,892)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	154,034	147,170	184,684
Repayment of debt	(149,796)	(209,068)	(101,462)
Debt issuance costs	(627)	(827)	(1,920)
Payment of withholding taxes on exercise of restricted stock units	(46)	(496)	(5,737)
Proceeds from sale of treasury stock (purchases by UCP, Inc. of its class A common stock)	(1,250)		220
Other financing activities, net		(27)	242
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,315	(63,248)	76,027
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			1,896
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,580	(5,578)	(75,061)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	57,400	62,978	138,039
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	60,980	57,400	62,978
Less cash and cash equivalents of discontinued agribusiness operations, end of year	438	938	301
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of year	60,542	56,462	62,677
Cash paid (received) during the year for:
Payment (refund) of federal and state income taxes	124	(67)	(3,817)
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized		3,295	5,183
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock for vested restricted stock units	348	1,609	11,463
Fair value of assets acquired in Citizens acquisition			19,418
Cash paid for the acquisition of consolidated subsidiaries			(14,006)
Contingent consideration and liabilities assumed in Citizens acquisition			5,412
Accrued debt issuance costs			473
Unpaid liability incurred for construction costs		$ 388	$ 917
Distribution of debt and equity securities in satisfaction of deferred compensation liability (including 22,644 shares of treasury stock)	$ 856