Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) Fair Value of Assets on a Nonrecurring Basis (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Real estate and water assets, net	$ 342,338,000		$ 333,840,000
Disposal group, carrying value			5,700,000
Impairment of disposal group			5,180,000	[1]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Net assets of insurance segment	84,890,000	[2]	579,000	[1]
Fish Springs Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Real estate and water assets, net			$ 101,100,000

[1] As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for real estate and real estate option contracts with a carrying amount of $5.7 million that was written down to its implied fair value of $579,000 resulting in an impairment charge of $5.2 million, which was included in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2011. The implied fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated a wide range of assumptions including current asset pricing, and timing of sales, and costs. Given the facts and circumstances in certain of the real estate markets where the Company owns and develops real estate, including declines in market prices for similar assets, the Company adjusted its assumptions and judgments in its cash flow models by reducing prices, increasing costs and lengthening the timing of sales from the original projections.

[2] As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for an intangible asset with a carrying amount of $101.1 million that was written down to its implied fair value of $84.9 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $16.2 million, which was included in earnings for December 31, 2011. The implied fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated a wide range of assumptions including current asset pricing, price escalation, discount rates, absorption rates, and timing of sales, and costs. Given the dramatic and prolonged slow-down in housing starts and sales in the North Valleys of Reno, Nevada, and the decline in market prices for similar assets, the Company adjusted its assumptions and judgments in the model by reducing the price and lengthening the timing of absorption of water sales from the original projections.