MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE (Schedule of Debt by Property) (Details)								1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 06, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 16, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 23, 2017 USD ($) Option	Jan. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 17, 2017 USD ($) ft² Option	Nov. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Option	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 item
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Deferred financing costs, net and unamortized underwriting fees											$ (21,238,000)	$ (17,713,000)
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable											2,750,254,000	$ 2,690,747,000
Repayments of debt											$ 881,476,000		$ 1,981,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)											4.41%	4.71%
Net cash proceeds received from issuance											$ 944,663,000		$ 98,616,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum additional borrowing amount	$ 30,000,000
Other Financing Arrangements [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 15,707,000	$ 15,948,000
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
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued			$ 750,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)			6.875%
5.375% senior notes due March 15, 2025
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											5.38%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 800,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued			$ 800,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)			5.375%
Redemption price percentage at which Notes can be redeemed			105.375%
Woodlands Properties [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral											3,200,000,000
m.flats/TEN.M | Construction Loan Payable [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item															3
Master Planned Communities [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 252,535,000	$ 255,438,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount										$ 200,000,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.75%
Number of extension options | item								2
Option to extend, term								1 year	1 year			1 year
Outstanding principal balance of debt that is swapped to fixed rate through maturity									$ 175,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount										$ 100,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount	$ 180,000,000									$ 100,000,000
Extension period at borrower's option	1 year
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.75%
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Bridgeland [Member] | Bridgeland Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.60%
Facility Amount											$ 65,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											65,000,000	$ 65,000,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin [Member] | Special Improvement District bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
New SIDs issued											0
Bond obligation											$ 2,500,000
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											$ 123,000	123,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S128 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											7.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 440,000	440,000
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											$ 1,248,000	1,268,000
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											$ 4,159,000	4,159,000
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											$ 4,600,000	4,600,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin South [Member] | S159
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 2,389,000	2,389,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Summerlin West [Member] | S812
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 24,576,000	27,459,000
Master Planned Communities [Member] | Woodlands Properties [Member] | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.68%
Facility Amount											$ 150,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											150,000,000	150,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option														$ 25,000,000
Operating Assets [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 1,561,832,000	1,524,512,000
Operating Assets [Member] | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)											0.93%
Operating Assets [Member] | Other
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 237,000	235,000
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												1,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Downtown Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.18%
Facility Amount											$ 311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 305,888,000	302,981,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum percent recourse											35.00%
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%
Operating Assets [Member] | Downtown Summerlin | S128 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 3,350,000	3,350,000
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
Repayments of debt		$ 4,600,000
Operating Assets [Member] | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											2.58%
Facility Amount											$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 109,876,000	105,647,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Corporate Center 70 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.18%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 20,000,000	20,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | The Westin at the woodlands
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.58%
Facility Amount											$ 69,300,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 58,077,000	58,077,000
Operating Assets [Member] | 110 N Wacker Drive
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											5.21%
Outstanding balance											$ 21,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 21,759,000	22,704,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)											5.21%
Operating Assets [Member] | 110 N Wacker Drive | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Corporate recourse guarantee amount											$ 7,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.68%
Facility Amount											$ 56,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 55,293,000	55,778,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties [Member] | Construction Loan Payable [Member] | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum percent recourse											50.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions											25.00%
Time period of minimum level of tenant sales needed to achieve the reduced maximum percent recourse											12 months
Debt yield to achieve the reduced maximum percentage recourse											11.00%
Operating Assets [Member] | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.28%
Facility Amount											$ 65,455,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 36,462,000	35,053,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.28%
Facility Amount											$ 14,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 10,644,000	9,979,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.43%
Facility Amount											$ 37,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 30,223,000	29,461,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Resort and Conference Center [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.18%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 70,000,000	70,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | One Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.08%
Facility Amount											$ 49,900,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 34,072,000	23,588,000
Operating Assets [Member] | HHC 242 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.53%
Facility Amount											$ 6,658,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 4,995,000	3,708,000
Operating Assets [Member] | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.04%
Outstanding balance											$ 40,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 94,463,000	80,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued						$ 94,500,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)											3.41%
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											$ 13,825,000	13,886,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Millennium Waterway Apartments [Member]
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] | Ward Village [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.54%
Outstanding balance											$ 119,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 238,718,000	238,718,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)											3.64%
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											$ 12,286,000	12,378,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Waterway 4 [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 35,979,000	36,249,000
Operating Assets [Member] | 3831 Technology Forest
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 22,282,000	22,383,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Millennium Six Pines Apartments [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.39%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 42,500,000	42,500,000
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											$ 51,279,000	51,590,000
Operating Assets [Member] | One Lakes Edge [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 69,440,000	68,874,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued							$ 71,900,000
Repayments of debt							$ 3,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | One Lakes Edge [Member] | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)							3.50%
Operating Assets [Member] | One Lakes Edge [Member] | Fannie Mae
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued				$ 69,400,000
Number of extension options | Option				2
Option to extend, term				1 year
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)				4.50%
Interest Period				4 years
Amortization Period				30 years
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
Operating Assets [Member] | Two Hughes Landing [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.20%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 48,000,000	48,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Hughes Landing Retail [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.50%
Facility Amount											$ 35,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 35,000,000	35,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Regional Building [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)					4.48%						4.48%
Facility Amount					$ 23,000,000						$ 25,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											25,000,000	22,188,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued					$ 25,000,000
Interest Period					2 years
Amortization Period					30 years
Operating Assets [Member] | One Mall North
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option						2
Option to extend, term						1 year
Area of real estate property acquired (in square foot) | ft²						97,500
Operating Assets [Member] | One Mall North | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)						1.75%
Strategic Developments [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 141,418,000	162,562,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											7.68%
Facility Amount											$ 410,000,000	410,000,000
Outstanding balance												600,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											$ 137,689,000	$ 160,847,000
Number of extension options | Option												2
Option to extend, term												1 year
Immediate advance on loan after modification of agreement								$ 50,000,000
Maximum additional borrowing amount								$ 113,000,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)												6.75%
Strategic Developments [Member] | Ke Kilohana
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.18%
Facility Amount											$ 142,656,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Two Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.43%
Facility Amount											$ 33,156,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Ae'o
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											4.93%
Facility Amount											$ 230,000,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)											3.53%
Facility Amount											$ 6,368,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross											3,729,000	$ 1,715,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount											$ 15,700,000