Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 66,472	$ 49,114	$ 37,048
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,654	24,499	12,631
Non-cash stock-based expense	5,621	3,251	2,519
Acceleration of interest expense related to debt conversion	0	5,205	12,414
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	77	(540)	170
Deferred income taxes	(13,195)	22,026	466
Distributions from long-term investments	1,258	1,416	2,011
Equity in (losses) earnings from long-term investments	2,681	(3,140)	(3,126)
(Gain) loss on sale of investment securities available for sale	(11,138)	11	(5,152)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures	(2,001)	(4,103)	(22,925)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	5,894	5,152	4,251
Non-cash interest expense	6,504	35,584	22,995
Non-cash interest income	0	0	(90)
Gain on acquisition of Douglas Elliman	0	0	(60,842)
Impairment of investment securities	12,846	0	0
Impairment of long-term investments	811	0	0
Impairment of real estate held for sale	230	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(1,414)	(11,197)	5,975
Inventories	3,806	3,173	6,897
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	37,936	5,708	41,047
Payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	(2,796)	(925)	(32,690)
Other assets and liabilities, net	5,233	(27,858)	28,427
Net cash provided by operating activities	144,479	107,376	52,026
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	270,576	154,615	117,021
Maturities of investment securities	5,491	930	27
Purchase of investment securities	(214,146)	(305,731)	(170,463)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	1,303	2,416	10,927
Purchase of long-term investments	(10,000)	(12,000)	(5,501)
(Increase) decrease in restricted assets	(6,889)	(872)	1,081
Investments in real estate ventures	(70,272)	(40,916)	(75,731)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	17,563	7,309	3,142
Issuance of notes receivable	(4,410)	(8,250)	(8,600)
Cash acquired in Douglas Elliman consolidation	0	0	116,935
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	4	4	48
Capital expenditures	(10,977)	(23,404)	(13,275)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(1,742)	(484)	(628)
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	(750)	(67,616)
Repayment of notes receivable	4,000	4,850	0
Purchase of preferred securities	0	(1,000)	0
Pay down of investment securities	8,739	1,849	681
Proceeds from sale of preferred securities	1,000	0	0
Investments in real estate held for sale	(12,603)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,363)	(221,434)	(91,952)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	2,105	413,914	457,767
Repayments of debt	(6,684)	(12,601)	(422,581)
Deferred financing charges	(624)	(12,360)	(11,750)
Borrowings under revolver	153,361	886,130	978,788
Repayments on revolver	(167,915)	(898,788)	(977,794)
Dividends and distributions on common stock	(188,151)	(167,328)	(144,711)
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(3,280)	(9,339)	(11,764)
Contributions from non-controlling interest	813	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	1,441	5,151	544
Tax benefit of options exercised	821	1,178	38
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(208,113)	205,957	(131,463)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(85,997)	91,899	(171,389)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	326,365	234,466	405,855
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 240,368	$ 326,365	$ 234,466