MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE - Debt by Property (Details)					9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 23, 2015 USD ($) item	May. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Oct. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2015 USD ($)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Unamortized underwriting fees					$ (7,004,000)		$ (7,689,000)
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable					$ 2,322,296,000		$ 1,993,470,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)					4.39%		4.61%
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral					$ 2,500,000,000
Net cash proceeds					$ 370,342,000	$ 414,046,000
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					one month LIBOR
Variable rate basis (as a percent)					0.20%
Other Corporate Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 19,045,000		$ 19,968,000
Other Corporate Financing Arrangements | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross							20,400,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021
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 | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross							750,000,000
Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount					$ 140,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)					5.00%
Undrawn and available borrowing capacity					$ 0
Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)					3.25%
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 234,580,000		211,195,000
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Annual principal payments as a percentage of outstanding principal balance					5.00%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland Land Loan | Land Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 8,582,000		15,874,000
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland Land Loan | Land Loan | Redemption Period Through June 2017
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)					5.50%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland Land Loan | Land Loan | Three Month LIBOR | Redemption Period July 2017 Through June 2022
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					three-month LIBOR
Variable rate basis (as a percent)					2.75%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland Land Loan | Land Loan | Minimum
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 | Bridgeland Development Loan | Development Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 19,600,000		10,000
Outstanding balance					$ 30,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 411,000		563,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 177,000		236,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 535,000		623,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128C
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 5,025,000		5,274,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S132
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 1,826,000		2,936,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S151
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 4,714,000		6,211,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S808 or 810
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 1,047,000		2,805,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item					2
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount					$ 200,000,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)				2.75%
Option to extend, term					1 year
Maximum facility amount at first extension option					$ 175,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option					$ 25,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis				one-month LIBOR
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Term Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount				$ 100,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.95%
Facility Amount				$ 100,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					192,663,000		176,663,000
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 1,184,403,000		972,483,000
Operating Assets | Capital Lease Obligations
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 57,000		135,000
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.68%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross		$ 80,000,000			$ 80,000,000
Outstanding balance					$ 40,000,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)		1.75%
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)					3.41%
Number of extension options | item		2
Option to extend, term		1 year
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.45%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 20,000,000		20,000,000
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.20%
Facility Amount					$ 23,008,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 22,188,000		20,513,000
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building | LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis		LIBOR
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.45%
Facility Amount					$ 311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 277,944,000		$ 229,153,000
Recourse on loan (as a percent)							35.00%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
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%
Amount of debt issued							$ 311,800,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 235,000		310,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 3,350,000		3,431,000
Operating Assets | One Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 52,000,000		52,000,000
Operating Assets | Two Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.85%
Facility Amount					$ 41,230,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 33,205,000		19,992,000
Operating Assets | 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
Operating Assets | 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 | 110 N Wacker
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					5.21%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 27,426,000		29,000,000
Outstanding balance					$ 27,400,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)					5.21%
Corporate recourse guarantee amount							7,000,000
Operating Assets | 9303 New Trails
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 12,821,000		13,074,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.70%
Facility Amount					$ 73,525,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 65,548,000		40,787,000
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.95%
Facility Amount					$ 64,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 55,454,000		47,118,000
Operating Assets | 3831 Technology Forest Drive
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 22,851,000			$ 23,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)								4.50%
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					3.70%
Facility Amount					$ 95,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 83,336,000		76,027,000
Operating Assets | Ward Village
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					3.36%
Facility Amount					$ 250,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					238,716,000		238,716,000
Outstanding balance					$ 143,000,000		$ 143,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)					3.81%		3.81%
Operating Assets | 2025 Waterway Avenue
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 14,168,000		$ 14,330,000
Operating Assets | 3 Waterway Square
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 | 4 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 37,547,000		38,289,000
Operating Assets | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties | Construction Loan Payable | Recourse Debt
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
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 141,272,000		$ 47,513,000
Strategic Developments | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.15%
Facility Amount					$ 36,575,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 25,373,000		17,424,000
Strategic Developments | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.10%
Facility Amount					$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 81,719,000		$ 47,513,000
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.55%
Facility Amount					$ 14,000,000
Strategic Developments | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.55%
Facility Amount					$ 65,455,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 14,046,000
Strategic Developments | Hughes Landing Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.70%
Facility Amount					$ 37,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 10,973,000
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					6.95%
Facility Amount					$ 600,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 10,334,000
Strategic Developments | Waterway Square Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					2.85%
Facility Amount					$ 69,300,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross					$ 24,200,000
Strategic Developments | Alden Bridge Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.60%
Number of extension options | item	2
Option to extend, term	1 year
Non recource debt	$ 6,700,000
Strategic Developments | Alden Bridge Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis	one-month LIBOR