Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 95,816	$ 77,044	$ 247,009	$ 175,718
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate				(20,696)
Other income, net	892	1,047	2,445	3,501
Total revenues and other income	96,708	78,091	249,454	158,523
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	78,977	60,626	202,157	142,566
General, administrative, and other	10,098	10,168	34,867	33,661
Sales and marketing	4,963	4,818	14,061	13,373
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets	4,615	727	7,012	2,090
Depreciation and amortization	302	653	1,193	1,649
Total cost of sales and expenses	98,955	76,992	259,290	193,339
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	(2,247)	1,099	(9,836)	(34,816)
Benefit (provision) for federal and state income taxes	406	(22)	372	2,949
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate		(1,942)		(3,422)
Loss from continuing operations	(1,841)	(865)	(9,464)	(35,289)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(18)	(10,225)	(102)	(29,520)
Income (loss) on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	2	(1,348)	(1,858)	(18,251)
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(16)	(11,573)	(1,960)	(47,771)
Net loss	(1,857)	(12,438)	(11,424)	(83,060)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,043)	(1,654)	(1,676)	2,373
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(2,900)	(14,092)	(13,100)	(80,687)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(1,857)	(12,438)	(11,424)	(83,060)
Unrealized gain on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	954	12	1,484	295
Foreign currency translation	31	(48)	57	(85)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	985	(36)	1,541	210
Comprehensive loss	(872)	(12,474)	(9,883)	(82,850)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,043)	(1,654)	(1,676)	2,373
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (1,915)	$ (14,128)	$ (11,559)	$ (80,477)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations ($ per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.48)	$ (1.51)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations ($ per share)		(0.50)	(0.09)	(2.00)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted ($ per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.57)	$ (3.51)
Weighted average shares outstanding (number of shares)	23,068	23,017	23,049	23,010