Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Notes Payable Narrative) (Details)							1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 02, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2017 USD ($) shares	May 09, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 15, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) series	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) series	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt										$ 4,066,000	$ 34,110,000	$ 0
Shares issued (in shares) | shares			2,205,000
Senior Notes | 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							7.75%			7.75%
Principal amount				$ 235,000,000	$ 150,000,000			$ 450,000,000
Net proceeds from issuance of debt				$ 236,900,000	$ 158,670,000			$ 438,250,000
Redemption price				103.50%	106.75%
Repurchased face amount			$ 835,000,000
Senior Notes | 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							6.125%			6.125%
Principal amount			850,000,000
Net proceeds from issuance of debt			$ 831,100,000
Redemption price										101.00%
Indenture threshold for earnings for payment of dividends (less than)							$ 75,000,000			$ 75,000,000
Leverage ratio requirement										3.0
Secured leverage ratio requirement										1.5
Senior Notes | 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		10.50%
Minimum percentage of principal amount to remain outstanding		60.00%
Percent of net proceeds of certain equity offerings		110.50%
Redemption price max of principal amount		40.00%
Redemption interest rate		1.00%
Principal amount		$ 325,000,000
Net proceeds from issuance of debt		$ 315,000,000
Redemption price		101.00%
Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of series outstanding | series							2			2
Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt | 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							7.50%		7.50%	7.50%
Net proceeds from issuance of debt									$ 218,900,000
Partial interest rate of convertible debt									2.50%
Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt | 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							5.50%			5.50%
Principal amount						$ 258,750,000
Net proceeds from issuance of debt						$ 250,300,000
Payments for convertible debt							$ 27,141,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt							$ (4,066,000)
Redemption price							101.15%
Repurchased face amount							$ 26,750,000			$ 26,750,000
Redemption prince in event of change as defined in indenture						100.00%
Partial interest rate of convertible debt						1.75%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt | 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	$ 230,000,000
Interest expense	$ 8,102,000
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC | Senior Notes | 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage		100.00%