Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value Measurements on a Non-Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Loss on Intangible assets					$ (993,000)	[1]
Impairment of real estate	0		(2,865,000)	[2]	(417,000)	[3]
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate Total Gain (Loss)					21,181,000	[4]
Intangible asset carrying amount					84,900,000
Real estate carrying value	4,200,000		4,200,000		4,100,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Intangible asset (exclusive right to use infrastructure and associated water credits)					83,897,000	[1]
Real estate	1,357,000	[2]	1,357,000	[2]	3,674,000	[3]
Equity Method and Cost Method Investments					$ 28,679,000	[4]

[1] The Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for an intangible asset with a carrying amount of $84.9 million that was written down to its estimated fair value of $83.9 million resulting in an impairment charge of $993,000, which was included in earnings for December 31, 2013. 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, timing of sales, and costs. Given the decline in market prices for similar assets, increases in interest rates, and extended timing of expected absorptions, the Company adjusted its assumptions and judgments in the model from original projections.

[2] The Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement of real estate assets with a carrying value of $4.2 million that was written down to its estimated fair value of $1.4 million resulting in an impairment charge of $2.9 million, which was included in earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2014. There was no impairment loss recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The impairment was recorded based on the estimated sales price the Company expects to receive upon the sale of this real estate. The impairment loss relates to a property which is not part of UCP’s results of operations nor is it included in UCP’s inventory of lots.

[3] The Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement of real estate assets with a carrying value of $4.1 million that was written down to its estimated fair value of $3.7 million resulting in an impairment charge of $417,000, which was included in earnings for December 31, 2013. The impairment was recorded based on the estimated sales price the Company expects to receive upon the sale of this real estate. The impairment loss relates to a property which is not part of UCP’s results of operations nor is it included in UCP’s inventory of lots.

[4] The Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement as a result of the merger transaction between Spigit, Inc. (“Spigit”) and Mindjet. The transaction resulted in the deconsolidation of Spigit and the recording of the Company’s common and preferred stock investment in Mindjet at fair value on the date of the transaction. The transaction resulted in a gain of approximately $21.2 million before income taxes. The fair value of the investment in Mindjet was based on analysis of the financial and operational aspects of the company, including consideration of a discounted cash flow analysis which incorporated a contemporary forecast of the merged Mindjet/Spigit entity going forward. Also considered was a guideline public company analysis which compared business enterprise value-to-revenue ratios for comparable public companies to current revenue metrics for the company. Determination of the business enterprise value based on the foregoing was then considered in an analysis of the distribution of equity value to the various classes of equity held by PICO in order to reflect differences in value due to differing liquidation, dividend and voting rights. The fair value approach relied primarily on Level 3 unobservable inputs, whereby expected future cash flows were discounted using a rate that includes assumptions regarding an entity’s average cost of debt and equity, incorporated expected future cash flows based on internal business plans, and applied certain assumptions about risk and uncertainties. The estimates were based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which by nature are uncertain and unpredictable.