Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 25,097	$ 98
Other income, net	1,096	687
Total revenues and other income	26,193	785
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	12,532	45
General, administrative, and other	4,090	5,082
Depreciation and amortization	98	359
Total cost of sales and expenses	16,720	5,486
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	9,473	(4,701)
Provision for federal and state income taxes	(180)	(89)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	9,293	(4,790)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	3,887	(203)
Loss on sale or impairment loss on classification of assets as held-for-sale, net of tax	(7,146)	(1,849)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(3,259)	(2,052)
Net income (loss)	6,034	(6,842)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,391)	41
Net income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	4,643	(6,801)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	6,034	(6,842)
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(590)	40
Foreign currency translation	16	9
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(574)	49
Comprehensive income (loss)	5,460	(6,793)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,391)	41
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ 4,069	$ (6,752)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations ($ per share)	$ 0.40	$ (0.21)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations ($ per share)	(0.20)	(0.08)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted ($ per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.29)
Weighted average shares outstanding (number of shares)	23,072	23,038