Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Deficiency - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance (in shares)	153,324,629
Beginning Balance	$ (659,687)	$ (685,016)	$ (547,366)
Net income	219,273	92,938	101,015
Total other comprehensive income	5,351	734	2,871
Total comprehensive income	224,624	93,672	103,886
Distributions and dividends on common stock	(126,371)	(125,128)	(237,339)
Restricted stock grant	0	0	0
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting	$ (3,563)	(2,186)	(2,174)
Surrender of shares in connection with stock option exercise		(7,357)	(19,058)
Issuance of common stock		$ 52,563
Effect of stock dividend			$ 0
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	0	620,527	1,824,351
Exercise of stock options		$ 6,913	$ 15,817
Stock-based compensation	$ 14,799	9,483	9,469
Basis adjustment on non-controlling interest			(6,415)
Distributions to non-controlling interest		(448)	(286)
Acquisition of subsidiary	500
Contributions from non-controlling interest	1,625
Distribution of Douglas Elliman Inc.	$ (293,480)
Other		$ 80
Ending Balance (in shares)	153,324,629	153,324,629
Ending Balance	$ (841,553)	$ (659,687)	(685,016)
Impact of adoption of new accounting standards
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		$ (2,263)	(1,550)
Ending Balance			$ (2,263)
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance (in shares)	153,324,629	148,084,900	140,914,642
Beginning Balance	$ 15,332	$ 14,808	$ 14,092
Restricted stock grant (in shares)	873,500	425,000	60,000
Restricted stock grant	$ 88	$ 43	$ 6
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting (in shares)	(238,702)	(216,542)	(221,668)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting	$ (24)	$ (22)	$ (22)
Surrender of shares in connection with stock option exercise (in shares)		(589,256)	(1,529,512)
Surrender of shares in connection with stock option exercise		$ (59)	$ (153)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		5,000,000
Issuance of common stock		$ 500
Effect of stock dividend (in shares)			7,037,087
Effect of stock dividend			$ 703
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		620,527	1,824,351
Exercise of stock options		$ 62	$ 182
Ending Balance (in shares)	153,959,427	153,324,629	148,084,900
Ending Balance	$ 15,396	$ 15,332	$ 14,808
Additional Paid-In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0
Distributions and dividends on common stock		(58,892)	(4,041)
Restricted stock grant	(88)	(43)	(6)
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting	(3,539)	(2,164)	(2,152)
Surrender of shares in connection with stock option exercise		(7,298)	(18,905)
Issuance of common stock		52,063
Exercise of stock options		6,851	15,635
Stock-based compensation	14,799	9,483	9,469
Ending Balance	11,172	0	0
Accumulated Deficit
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(653,945)	(678,464)	(542,169)
Net income	219,463	92,938	100,974
Distributions and dividends on common stock	(126,371)	(66,236)	(233,298)
Effect of stock dividend			(703)
Basis adjustment on non-controlling interest			(6,415)
Distribution of Douglas Elliman Inc.	(291,545)
Other		80
Ending Balance	(852,398)	(653,945)	(678,464)
Accumulated Deficit | Impact of adoption of new accounting standards
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		(2,263)	3,147
Ending Balance			(2,263)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(21,074)	(21,808)	(19,982)
Total other comprehensive income	5,351	734	2,871
Ending Balance	(15,723)	(21,074)	(21,808)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Impact of adoption of new accounting standards
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			(4,697)
Non-controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	448	693
Net income	(190)	0	41
Distributions to non-controlling interest		(448)	(286)
Contributions from non-controlling interest	1,625
Distribution of Douglas Elliman Inc.	(1,935)
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 448