MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE - Debt by Property (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 02, 2013	Aug. 08, 2013	Jun. 27, 2014	Apr. 15, 2014	May 31, 2015	Jul. 18, 2014	Jul. 15, 2014	Dec. 05, 2014	Oct. 03, 2014	Nov. 06, 2014	Aug. 06, 2014 room	Jun. 30, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 10, 2014	Mar. 25, 2015
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Unamortized underwriting fees	$ (7,464,000)		(7,689,000)
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable	2,123,617,000		1,993,470,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)			4.53%													4.61%
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral			2,400,000,000
Net cash proceeds	137,566,000	48,811,000
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)			0.1756%
Other Financing Arrangements [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.00%
Facility Amount	22,700,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	19,645,000		19,968,000
Other Financing Arrangements [Member] | Recourse Debt [member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross			20,400,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	750,000,000		750,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)				6.875%
Amount of debt issued				750,000,000
Maximum percentage of Notes that can be redeemed using proceeds from equity offerings at any time prior to October 1, 2016				35.00%
Percentage of principal amount at which Notes can be redeemed				106.875%
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Recourse Debt [member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross			750,000,000
Summerlin [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum recourse upon completion of the project and achievement of debt service coverage ratio			15.00%
Maximum Percentage Recourse Upon Achievement of Conditions			10.00%
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for reduction in maximum recourse			1.15
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse			1.25
Minimum average tenant sales per net rentable square foot to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse			500.00
Occupancy percentage			90.00%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)			35.00%
Amount of debt issued			311,800,000
Master Planned Communities [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	242,922,000		211,195,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Period for which interest rate is fixed			5 years
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Cash balance required to be maintained			3,000,000
Net worth required to be maintained			250,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)			2.75%
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member] | Land Loan [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	15,874,000		15,874,000
Variable rate basis			three-month LIBOR
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)			5.50%
Annual principal payments as a percentage of outstanding principal balance			5.00%
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member] | Development Loan [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%		5.00%
Facility Amount	30,000,000		140,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	15,389,000		10,000
Outstanding balance			30,000,000
Variable rate basis			one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)			3.25%
Amount utilized			115,700,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S108 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	548,000		563,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S124 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	236,000		236,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S128 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	623,000		623,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S128C [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	5,097,000		5,274,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S132 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	2,538,000		2,936,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S151 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	4,885,000		6,211,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin West [Member] | S808 or 810 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	1,069,000		2,805,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Woodlands Properties [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount			250,000,000
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.75%
Extension period at borrower's option			1 year
Maximum facility amount at first extension option			220,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option			185,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Woodlands Properties [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount					125,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Woodlands Properties [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.93%
Facility Amount	250,000,000				125,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	196,663,000		176,663,000
Operating Assets [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	1,005,515,000		931,696,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	123,000		135,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Shops at Summerlin Centre [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.43%
Facility Amount	311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	256,955,000		229,153,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Shops at Summerlin Centre [Member] | S108 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	310,000		310,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Shops at Summerlin Centre [Member] | S128 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	3,431,000		3,431,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Corporate Center 70 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.43%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	20,000,000		20,000,000
Variable rate basis						one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)						2.25%
Cash paid in full satisfaction of loan assumed as part of the acquisition							17,000,000
Loans Assumed							16,000,000
Lender participation right (as a percent)							30.00%
Percentage of cumulative preferred return on the property							10.00%
Participation right payment							700,000
Number of extension options						2
Option to extend, term						1 year
Amount of debt issued						20,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Regional Building [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.18%
Facility Amount	23,008,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	20,627,000		20,513,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Regional Building [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross								80,000,000
Variable rate basis								LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)								1.75%
Number of extension options								2
Option to extend, term								1 year
Operating Assets [Member] | One Hughes Landing [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	52,000,000		52,000,000														52,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																	4.30%
Amount of debt issued																	38,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Two Hughes Landing [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.83%
Facility Amount	41,230,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	27,927,000		19,992,000
Operating Assets [Member] | 1701 Lake Robbins
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.81%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	4,600,000		4,600,000
Loans Assumed									4,600,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)									5.81%
Operating Assets [Member] | Millennium Waterway Apartments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.75%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	55,584,000		55,584,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Wacker110N [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.21%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	29,000,000		29,000,000
Outstanding balance			29,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)			5.21%
Corporate recourse guarantee amount			7,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | New Trails 9303 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	12,991,000		13,074,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Riverwalk Marketplace
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.93%
Facility Amount	64,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	51,306,000		47,118,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Technology Forest Drive [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	23,000,000																	23,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																		4.50%
Operating Assets [Member] | Resort and Conference Center [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.68%
Facility Amount	95,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	83,109,000		76,027,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Ward Centers [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.35%
Facility Amount	250,000,000		250,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	238,716,000		238,716,000
Outstanding balance																143,000,000
Variable rate basis			one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)			2.50%
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)			3.80%
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)			3.35%
Unused portion of the debt instrument			11,300,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Ward Centers [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Percentage of debt yield to draw additional loan proceeds			10.00%
Operating Assets [Member] | Ward Centers [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Loan to value ratio to draw additional loan proceeds (as a percent)			65.00%
Operating Assets [Member] | Waterway Square 2025 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	14,274,000		14,330,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Waterway Square 3 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.94%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	52,000,000		52,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Waterway 4 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	38,044,000		38,289,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties [Member] | Construction Loan Payable [Member] | Recourse Debt [member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross			64,400,000
Maximum percent recourse			50.00%
Maximum Percentage Recourse Upon Achievement of Conditions			25.00%
Debt Yield Required To Achieve The Reduced Maxiumum Percentage Recourse			11.00%
Time Period Of Minimum Level Of Tenat Sales Needed To Achieve The Reduced Maximum Percent Recourse			12 months
Strategic Developments [Member] | Summerlin [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis										one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.25%
Number of extension options										2
Option to extend, term										1 year
Amount of debt issued										311,800,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.08%
Facility Amount	143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	63,815,000		47,513,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Three Hughes Landing [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.53%
Facility Amount	65,455,000										65,500,000
Variable rate basis											one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)											2.35%
Number of extension options											2
Option to extend, term											1 year
Strategic Developments [Member] | Hughes Landing Hotel [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.68%
Facility Amount	37,100,000
Variable rate basis												one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)												2.50%
Number of extension options												2
Option to extend, term												1 year
Amount of debt issued												37,100,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Hughes Landing Retail [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.13%
Facility Amount	36,575,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	21,518,000		17,424,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | One Lakes Edge [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.68%
Facility Amount	73,525,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	49,184,000		40,787,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waiea And Anaha Condominium Towers [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.93%
Facility Amount	600,000,000												600,000,000
Variable rate basis													one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)													6.75%
Number of extension options													2
Option to extend, term													1 year
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waterway Square Hotel [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.83%
Facility Amount	69,300,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waterway Hotel [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	112,999,000		88,300,000
Variable rate basis														one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)														2.65%
Option to extend, term														1 year
Number of rooms in property securing debt (in rooms)														302
Amount of debt issued														69,300,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Two Office Buildings [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis															one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)															1.90%
Option to extend, term															1 year
Number of office buildings															2
Amount of debt issued															$ 143,000,000