Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 107,376	$ 52,026	$ 84,086
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	156,604	117,729	3,831
Purchase of investment securities	(305,731)	(170,964)	(5,647)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	549	580	72
Purchase of long-term investments	(12,000)	(5,000)	(5,000)
Investments in real estate ventures	(40,916)	(75,731)	(33,375)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	7,309	3,142	49,221
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(484)	(628)	(907)
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets	(872)	1,081	(1,130)
Issuance of notes receivable	(8,250)	(8,600)	(383)
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	4	48	444
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation	0us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition	116,935us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition	0us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
Purchase of subsidiaries	(750)	(67,616)	0
Repayment of notes receivable	6,717	10,347	0
Capital expenditures	(23,404)	(13,275)	(11,265)
Purchase of preferred securities	(1,000)	0	0
Pay down of investment securities	790	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(221,434)	(91,952)	(4,139)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	413,914	457,767	244,075
Deferred financing charges	(12,360)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(11,750)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(11,479)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts
Repayments of debt	(12,601)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(422,581)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(19,258)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Borrowings under revolver	886,130us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	978,788us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	1,074,050us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Repayments on revolver	(898,788)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	(977,794)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	(1,066,092)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Capital contributions received	0	0	0
Intercompany dividends paid	0	0	0
Dividends and distributions on common stock	(167,328)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(144,711)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(137,114)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(9,339)	(11,764)	0
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock	0	0	611
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	5,151	544	140
Tax benefit of options exercised	1,178	38	52
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	205,957	(131,463)	84,985
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	91,899	(171,389)	164,932
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	234,466	405,855	240,923
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	326,365	234,466	405,855
Parent/Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	61,779	71,730	118,399
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	156,604	111,127	0
Purchase of investment securities	(299,417)	(159,463)	0
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	500	500	0
Purchase of long-term investments	(12,000)	(5,000)	(5,000)
Investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	0	(144)	(425)
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets	188	3	263
Issuance of notes receivable	(35,000)	0	(383)
Investments in subsidiaries	(85,278)	(155,961)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	0	35	432
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation		0
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	0	(31,209)
Repayment of notes receivable	36,867	10,347
Capital expenditures	(15)	(2,297)	(1,520)
Purchase of preferred securities	0
Pay down of investment securities	790
Net cash used in investing activities	(236,761)	(200,853)	(37,842)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	408,750	450,000	230,000
Deferred financing charges	(12,360)	(11,750)	(11,164)
Repayments of debt	0	(415,000)	0
Borrowings under revolver	0	0	0
Repayments on revolver	0	0	0
Capital contributions received	0	0	0
Intercompany dividends paid	0	0	0
Dividends and distributions on common stock	(167,328)	(144,711)	(137,114)
Distributions to non-controlling interest	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock			611
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	5,151	544	140
Tax benefit of options exercised	1,178	38	52
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	235,391	(120,879)	82,525
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	60,409	(250,002)	163,082
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	151,342	401,344	238,262
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	211,751	151,342	401,344
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	83,671	115,829	133,308
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	0	6,602	3,831
Purchase of investment securities	(6,314)	(11,501)	(5,647)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	0	0	0
Purchase of long-term investments	0	0	0
Investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(484)	(484)	(482)
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets	(371)	1,078	(1,393)
Issuance of notes receivable	0	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	4	13	12
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation		0
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Repayment of notes receivable	0	0
Capital expenditures	(16,466)	(9,784)	(9,339)
Purchase of preferred securities	0
Pay down of investment securities	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,631)	(14,076)	(13,018)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	40,164	4,687	14,033
Deferred financing charges	0	0	(315)
Repayments of debt	(43,724)	(7,466)	(19,125)
Borrowings under revolver	886,130	978,788	1,074,050
Repayments on revolver	(898,788)	(977,794)	(1,066,092)
Capital contributions received	15,270	13,950	6,991
Intercompany dividends paid	(61,180)	(105,882)	(128,544)
Dividends and distributions on common stock	0	0	0
Distributions to non-controlling interest	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock			0
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	0	0	0
Tax benefit of options exercised	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(62,128)	(93,717)	(119,002)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,088)	8,036	1,288
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	11,812	3,776	2,488
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	9,724	11,812	3,776
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	62,656	(16,239)	(2,772)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	0	0	0
Purchase of investment securities	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	49	80	72
Purchase of long-term investments	0	0	0
Investments in real estate ventures	(40,916)	(75,731)	(33,375)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	7,309	3,142	49,221
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	0	0	0
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets	(689)	0	0
Issuance of notes receivable	(8,250)	(8,600)	0
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	0	0	0
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation		116,935
Purchase of subsidiaries	(750)	(67,616)	0
Repayment of notes receivable	4,850	0
Capital expenditures	(6,923)	(1,194)	(406)
Purchase of preferred securities	(1,000)
Pay down of investment securities	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(46,320)	(32,984)	15,512
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	3,080	42
Deferred financing charges	0	0	0
Repayments of debt	(3,877)	(115)	(133)
Borrowings under revolver	0	0	0
Repayments on revolver	0	0	0
Capital contributions received	70,008	142,011	24,218
Intercompany dividends paid	(39,550)	(13,412)	(36,305)
Dividends and distributions on common stock	0	0	0
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(9,339)	(11,764)
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock			0
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	0	0	0
Tax benefit of options exercised	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	17,242	119,800	(12,178)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	33,578	70,577	562
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	71,312	735	173
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	104,890	71,312	735
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(100,730)	(119,294)	(164,849)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	0	0	0
Purchase of investment securities	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	0	0	0
Purchase of long-term investments	0	0	0
Investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	0	0	0
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	0	0	0
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets	0	0	0
Issuance of notes receivable	35,000	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	85,278	155,961
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	0	0	0
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation		0
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	0	31,209
Repayment of notes receivable	(35,000)	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Purchase of preferred securities	0
Pay down of investment securities	0
Net cash used in investing activities	85,278	155,961	31,209
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	(35,000)	0	0
Deferred financing charges	0	0	0
Repayments of debt	35,000	0	0
Borrowings under revolver	0	0	0
Repayments on revolver	0	0	0
Capital contributions received	(85,278)	(155,961)	(31,209)
Intercompany dividends paid	100,730	119,294	164,849
Dividends and distributions on common stock	0	0	0
Distributions to non-controlling interest	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of Vector stock			0
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	0	0	0
Tax benefit of options exercised	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	15,452	(36,667)	133,640
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

The cash inflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period (for example, cash that was held by the acquired business).

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

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This element represents disclosure of the aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries.

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This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

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Amount of cash inflow from realized tax benefit related to deductible compensation cost reported on the entity's tax return for equity instruments in excess of the compensation cost for those instruments recognized for financial reporting purposes.

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The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) associated with funds that are not available for withdrawal or use (such as funds held in escrow) and are associated with underlying transactions that are classified as investing activities.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to common shareholders of the parent entity.

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The cash outflow for loan and debt issuance costs.

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

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The cash outflow to acquire debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which would be classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity.

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of or advances to an equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

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The cash outflow to acquire an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among myriad other features and characteristics.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

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The cash inflow associated with the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated subsidiary or sale of an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled.

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The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity.

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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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The cash inflow from the issuance of common stock, preferred stock, treasury stock, stock options, and other types of equity.

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Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from (to) a noncontrolling interest. Excludes dividends paid to the noncontrolling interest.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale or maturity (principal being due) of securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which are classified as available-for-sale securities.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale, maturity and collection of all investments such as debt, security and so forth during the period.

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The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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The cash inflow from a loan, supported by a promissory note, granted to related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

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Amount of cash outflow for payment of an obligation from a lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Increase decrease in cash surrender value of life insurance policies.

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Payments for Purchase of Preferred Securities

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