Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Deficit [Member]	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ (46,234)	$ 7,494	$ 0	$ (45,327)	$ 4,456	$ (12,857)	$ 0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		74,939,284
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	75,020			75,020
Change in net loss and prior service cost, net of income taxes	(5,998)				(5,998)
Forward contract adjustments, net of income taxes	39				39
Unrealized gain on long-term investment securities accounted for under the equity method, net of income taxes	(2,143)				(2,143)
Change in net unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	13,784				13,784
Net unrealized gains reclassified into net income, net of income taxes	(13,815)				(13,815)
Unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	(31)
Total other comprehensive loss	(8,133)
Comprehensive income	66,887
Distributions and dividends on common stock	(124,970)		(15,215)	(109,755)
Restricted stock grant	0	1	(1)
Restricted stock grant (in shares)		6,667
Restricted stock grant canceled	0	(1)	1
Restricted stock grant canceled (in shares)		(7,350)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting	(1,961)	(11)	(1,950)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting (in shares)		(112,429)
Effect of stock dividend	0	378		(378)
Effect of stock dividend (in shares)		3,782,308
Note conversion, net of income taxes	12,215	65	12,150
Note conversion, net of income taxes (in shares)		652,386
Exercise of stock options	1,029	18	1,011
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	557,887	181,125
Tax benefit of options exercised	821		821
Stock based compensation	3,183		3,183
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	(89,030)	7,944	0	(80,440)	(3,677)	(12,857)	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		79,441,991
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	30,622			30,622
Change in net loss and prior service cost, net of income taxes	1,422				1,422
Forward contract adjustments, net of income taxes	38				38
Unrealized gain on long-term investment securities accounted for under the equity method, net of income taxes	804				804
Change in net unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	(7,880)				(7,880)
Net unrealized gains reclassified into net income, net of income taxes	(975)				(975)
Unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	(8,855)
Total other comprehensive loss	(6,591)
Comprehensive income	24,031
Distributions and dividends on common stock	(135,072)		(120,188)	(14,884)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting	(3,773)	(23)	(3,750)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting (in shares)		(234,926)
Effect of stock dividend	0	414		(414)
Effect of stock dividend (in shares)		4,142,378
Note conversion, net of income taxes	76,887	347	76,540
Note conversion, net of income taxes (in shares)		3,476,654
Beneficial conversion feature of notes payable, net of income taxes	38,135		38,135
Issuance of common stock under share lending facility	3,815	611	3,204
Issuance of common stock under share lending facility (in shares)		6,114,000
Return of common stock under share lending facility	0	(306)	306
Return of common stock under share lending facility (in shares)		(3,057,000)
Exercise of stock options	140	2	138
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	16,883	15,314
Tax benefit of options exercised	52		52
Stock based compensation	5,563		5,563
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(79,252)	8,989	0	(65,116)	(10,268)	(12,857)	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		89,898,411
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	38,692			38,944			(252)
Change in net loss and prior service cost, net of income taxes	6,898				6,898
Forward contract adjustments, net of income taxes	37				37
Unrealized gain on long-term investment securities accounted for under the equity method, net of income taxes	58				58
Change in net unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	29,195				29,195
Net unrealized gains reclassified into net income, net of income taxes	(3,060)				(3,060)
Unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes	26,135
Total other comprehensive loss	33,128
Comprehensive income	71,820
Distributions and dividends on common stock	(146,056)		(57,891)	(88,165)
Restricted stock grant		77,500
Restricted stock grant (in shares)	0	8	(8)
Effect of stock dividend	0	450		(450)
Effect of stock dividend (in shares)		4,498,579
Note conversion, net of income taxes	53,654	297	53,357
Note conversion, net of income taxes (in shares)		2,970,168
Exercise of stock options	544	4	540
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	40,175	38,340
Tax benefit of options exercised	38		38
Stock based compensation	2,519		2,519
Deemed dividend from subsidiary	0		1,445				(1,445)
Acquisition of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC	85,703						85,703
Contributions to non-controlling interest	1,955						1,955
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(12,534)						(12,534)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ (21,609)	$ 9,748	$ 0	$ (114,787)	$ 22,860	$ (12,857)	$ 73,427
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		97,482,998