Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 38,692	$ 30,622	$ 75,020
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	12,631	10,608	10,607
Non-cash stock-based expense	2,519	5,563	3,183
Acceleration of interest expense related to debt conversion	12,414	14,960	1,217
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	170	0	(43)
Deferred income taxes	466	(7,336)	9,366
Gain on sale of townhomes	0	0	(3,843)
Gain on liquidation of long-term investments accounted for at cost	0	0	(25,832)
Loss (income) on long-term investments accounted under the equity method	(2,066)	1,261	859
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(5,152)	(1,640)	(23,257)
Equity income in non-consolidated real estate businesses	(22,925)	(29,764)	(19,966)
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses	4,251	19,169	9,322
Non-cash interest expense	22,995	28,150	7,373
Loss (gain) on warrants	(1,165)	1,193	(700)
Non-cash interest income	(861)	0	0
Gain on acquisition of Douglas Elliman	(60,842)	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	5,975	13,622	(23,020)
Inventories	6,897	8,837	(2,149)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	41,047	4,497	(3,216)
Payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	(32,690)	(14,903)	26,419
Other assets and liabilities, net	29,670	(753)	(5,299)
Net cash provided by operating activities	52,026	84,086	36,041
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	117,729	3,831	31,643
Purchase of investment securities	(170,964)	(5,647)	(5,039)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	580	72	66,190
Purchase of long-term investments	(5,000)	(5,000)	(10,000)
Proceeds from sale of townhomes, net	0	0	19,629
Increase in restricted assets	1,081	(1,130)	(96)
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses	(75,731)	(33,375)	(41,859)
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses	3,142	49,221	8,450
Issuance of notes receivable	(8,600)	(383)	(15,256)
Cash acquired in Aberdeen consolidation	116,935	0	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets	48	444	205
Capital expenditures	(13,275)	(11,265)	(11,838)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(628)	(907)	(744)
Purchase of subsidiaries	(67,616)	0	0
Repayment of notes receivable	10,347	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(91,952)	(4,139)	41,285
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	457,767	244,075	6,419
Repayments of debt	(422,581)	(19,258)	(4,960)
Deferred financing charges	(11,750)	(11,479)	0
Borrowings under revolver	978,788	1,074,050	1,064,270
Repayments on revolver	(977,794)	(1,066,092)	(1,078,508)
Distributions on common stock	(144,711)	(137,114)	(125,299)
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(11,764)	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock	0	611	0
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	544	140	1,029
Tax benefit of options exercised	38	52	821
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(131,463)	84,985	(136,228)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(171,389)	164,932	(58,902)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	405,855	240,923	299,825
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 234,466	$ 405,855	$ 240,923