CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,614	$ (13,029)	$ (80,879)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	3,442	(2,160)	(2,817)
Depreciation and amortization expense	303	899	1,624
Stock-based compensation expense	1,295	2,850	1,907
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate		2,170	20,696
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets		201	2,085
Gain on sale of available-for-sale investments	(8,722)	(133)	(1,101)
Loss on abandonment or liquidation of consolidated subsidiary		1,968	0
Net (income) loss from discontinued operations, net	5,645	(12,124)	43,038
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(165)	(8,605)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate			3,422
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Notes and other receivables	1,619	486	253
Real estate, water, and intangible assets	13,027	(477)	(390)
Income taxes	(275)	1,234	41
Other assets	32	179	468
Deferred compensation	(7,500)	2,685	909
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(10,714)	8,768	(211)
Other operating activities, net	54	14	130
Cash used in operating activities - continuing operations	(345)	(15,074)	(10,825)
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	(9,728)	8,722	(38,098)
Net cash used in operating activities	(10,073)	(6,352)	(48,923)
Investing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of investments	197,848	1,068	7,938
Proceeds from maturity of investments	139,912	18	1,343
Purchases of investments	(270,317)	(1,511)	(2,316)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	470	8,988
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(5)	(152)	(2,777)
Other investing activities, net		661	212
Cash provided by investing activities - continuing operations	67,908	9,072	4,400
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	47,173	(1,455)	102,193
Net cash provided by investing activities	115,081	7,617	106,593
Financing activities:
Special dividend paid	(115,860)
Payment of withholding taxes on exercise of restricted stock units	(672)		(126)
Purchases of treasury stock	(690)
Other financing activities, net			(27)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(117,222)	0	(153)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinuing operations	(11,638)	2,315	(63,095)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(128,860)	2,315	(63,248)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(23,852)	3,580	(5,578)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	60,980	57,400	62,978
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	37,128	60,980	57,400
Less cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of year		41,369	41,417
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	37,128	19,611	15,983
Cash paid (received) during the year for:
Payment (refund) of federal and state income taxes	(367)	(220)	(67)
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock for vested restricted stock units	1,824	85	559
Fair value of common stock of Century received in the sale of UCP, Inc.	60,044
Unpaid liability incurred for construction costs			$ 388
Distribution of debt and equity securities in satisfaction of deferred compensation liability (including 53,996 and 22,644 shares of treasury stock in 2017 and 2016, respectively)	$ 15,709	$ 856