Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities	15. CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES GAAP requires a VIE to be consolidated by the company that is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that has both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Entities determined to be VIEs, for which we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. Comstock’s variable interests in VIEs may be in the form of (1) equity ownership, (2) contracts to purchase assets and/or (3) loans provided to and or guaranteed for a VIE. We examine specific criteria and use judgment when determining if Comstock is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Factors considered in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary include risk and reward sharing, experience and financial condition of other partner(s), voting rights, involvement in day-to-day capital and operating decisions and contracts to purchase assets from VIEs. Consolidated Real Estate Inventories Included within the Company’s real estate inventories at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are several projects that are determined to be VIEs. These entities have been established to own and operate real estate property and were deemed VIEs primarily based on the fact that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entities to finance their activities without additional financial support. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as a result of its majority voting and complete operational control of the entities. On August 23, 2012, the Company formed New Hampshire Ave. Ventures, LLC, a joint venture of its subsidiary, Comstock Ventures XVI, L.C, and 6000 New Hampshire Avenue, LLC, for the purpose of acquiring, developing and constructing a 111-unit project (the “NHA Project”) in Washington, D.C. The Company evaluated the joint venture and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the VIE as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits. The Company contributed its ownership interest in Comstock Ventures XVI, L.C. to Comstock Investors VII, L.C. (“Comstock VII”) on March 13, 2013. During 2018 and 2017, New Hampshire Ave. Ventures, LLC did not make any distributions to its non-controlling interest member, 6000 New Hampshire Avenue, LLC. In December 2013, Comstock Investors VIII, L.C. (“Comstock VIII”) entered into subscription agreements with certain accredited investors (“Comstock VIII Class B Members”), pursuant to which Comstock VIII Class B Members purchased membership interests in Comstock VIII for an aggregate amount of $4.0 million (the “Comstock VIII Private Placement”). In connection with the Comstock VIII Private Placement, the Company issued 15 warrants for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock to the non-affiliated accredited investors, having an aggregate fair value of $131 thousand. Comstock VIII Class B Members included unrelated third-party accredited investors along with members of the Company’s board of directors and the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer. The Comstock VIII Class B Members are entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 20% per annum, compounded annually on their capital account balances. The Company has the right to repurchase the interests of the Comstock VIII Class B Members at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock VIII Class B Members’ interests are acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock VIII Class B Members’ capital accounts plus an amount necessary to cause the preferred return to equal a cumulative cash on cash return equal to 20% per annum. The Company evaluated Comstock VIII and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. In January 2017, the Company fully redeemed the remaining equity interest of Class B Members in Comstock VIII after paying $1.9 million in distributions. In June 2015, Comstock Investors IX, L.C. (“Comstock IX”) entered into subscription agreements with third-party accredited investors (“Comstock IX Class B Members”), pursuant to which Comstock IX Class B Members purchased membership interests in Comstock IX for an aggregate amount of $2.5 million (the “Comstock IX Private Placement”). The Comstock IX Class B Members are entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 20% per annum, compounded annually on their capital account balances. The Company has the right to repurchase the interests of the Comstock IX Class B Members at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock IX Class B Members’ interests are acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock IX Class B Members’ capital accounts plus any amount necessary to cause the preferred return to equal a cumulative cash on cash return equal to 20% per annum. The Company evaluated Comstock IX and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits. Accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. In October 2017, the Company fully redeemed the remaining equity interest of Class B Members in Comstock IX after paying $3.5 million in distributions. In August 2016, Comstock Investors X, L.C. (“Comstock X”) entered into a subscription agreement with an accredited investor (“Comstock X Class B Member”), pursuant to which the Comstock X Class B Member purchased membership interests in Comstock X for an initial amount of $5.0 million, which is part of an aggregate capital raise of $14.5 million (the “Comstock X Private Placement”). The Comstock X Class B Member is Comstock Development Services, LC (“CDS”), an entity wholly owned by Christopher Clemente, our Chief Executive Officer. In October 2016, the Comstock X Class B Member purchased additional interests in the Comstock X Private Placement in an amount of $9.5 million resulting in an aggregate subscription amount of $14.5 million. In connection with the Comstock X Private Placement, the Company issued a total of 150 warrants for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, having an aggregate fair value of $258. The Comstock X Member is entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 6% per annum, compounded annually on the capital account balance. The Company has the right to repurchase the interest of the Comstock X Class B Member at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock X Class B Members’ interest is acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock X Class B Members’ capital account plus accrued priority return. In October 2017, the Operating Agreement for Comstock X was amended to increase the maximum capital raise to $19.5 million. Additionally, in October 2017, Comstock X received proceeds of $5.0 million under the amended Operating Agreement to be used for the planned construction of the Company’s Totten Mews, Towns at 1333, Richmond Station, and Marwood East projects. As part of this additional contribution, 50,000 warrants for the purchase of the Company’s Class A common stock, having an aggregate fair value of $258. The Company evaluated Comstock X and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary of the VIE as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits. Accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. During 2018 and 2017, the Company distributed $1.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to its non-controlling interest member. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the distributions and contributions for the VIEs discussed above are included within the ‘non-controlling interest’ classification in the consolidated statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, total assets of these VIEs were approximately $19.3 million and $30.6 million, respectively, and total liabilities were approximately $12.6 million and $15.9 million, respectively. The classification of these assets is primarily within ‘real estate inventories’ and the classification of liabilities are primarily within ‘notes payable – secured by real estate inventories’ and ‘accounts payable and accrued liabilities’ in the consolidated balance sheets. Land purchase options The Company typically acquires land for development at market prices under fixed price purchase agreements. The purchase agreements require deposits that may be forfeited if the Company fails to perform under the agreements. The deposits required under the purchase agreements are in the form of cash or letters of credit in varying amounts. The Company may, at its option, choose for any reason and at any time not to perform under these purchase agreements by delivering notice of its intent not to acquire the land under contract. The Company’s sole legal obligation and economic loss for failure to perform under these purchase agreements is typically limited to the amount of the deposit pursuant to the liquidated damages provision contained within the purchase agreement. As a result, none of the creditors of any of the entities with which the Company enters into forward fixed price purchase agreements have recourse to the general credit of the Company. The Company does not share in an allocation of either the profit earned or loss incurred by any of these entities with which the Company has fixed price purchase agreements. The Company has concluded that whenever it options land or lots from an entity and pays a significant non-refundable deposit as described above, a variable interest entity is created under the provisions of ASC 810-10, Consolidation . This is because the Company has been deemed to have provided subordinated financial support, which creates a variable interest which limits the equity holder’s returns and may absorb some or all of an entity’s expected theoretical losses if they occur. The Company, therefore, examines the entities with which it has fixed price purchase agreements for possible consolidation by the Company under the provision of ASC 810-10. The Company does not have any contractual or ownership interests in the entities with which it contracts to buy the land. The Company concluded that it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs, including the power to site plan and engineer the developments, finance the parcels under option contract, and develop the raw parcels under option contract into finished lots. The third party retains these rights under the fixed purchase price agreements until title is transferred to the Company upon settlement of the transaction, or a portion of the transactions as defined. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated these VIEs in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not have any outstanding land purchase options.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

15. CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

GAAP requires a VIE to be consolidated by the company that is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that has both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Entities determined to be VIEs, for which we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. Comstock’s variable interests in VIEs may be in the form of (1) equity ownership, (2) contracts to purchase assets and/or (3) loans provided to and or guaranteed for a VIE. We examine specific criteria and use judgment when determining if Comstock is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Factors considered in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary include risk and reward sharing, experience and financial condition of other partner(s), voting rights, involvement in day-to-day capital and operating decisions and contracts to purchase assets from VIEs.

Consolidated Real Estate Inventories

Included within the Company’s real estate inventories at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are several projects that are determined to be VIEs. These entities have been established to own and operate real estate property and were deemed VIEs primarily based on the fact that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entities to finance their activities without additional financial support. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as a result of its majority voting and complete operational control of the entities.

On August 23, 2012, the Company formed New Hampshire Ave. Ventures, LLC, a joint venture of its subsidiary, Comstock Ventures XVI, L.C, and 6000 New Hampshire Avenue, LLC, for the purpose of acquiring, developing and constructing a 111-unit project (the “NHA Project”) in Washington, D.C. The Company evaluated the joint venture and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the VIE as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits. The Company contributed its ownership interest in Comstock Ventures XVI, L.C. to Comstock Investors VII, L.C. (“Comstock VII”) on March 13, 2013. During 2018 and 2017, New Hampshire Ave. Ventures, LLC did not make any distributions to its non-controlling interest member, 6000 New Hampshire Avenue, LLC.

In December 2013, Comstock Investors VIII, L.C. (“Comstock VIII”) entered into subscription agreements with certain accredited investors (“Comstock VIII Class B Members”), pursuant to which Comstock VIII Class B Members purchased membership interests in Comstock VIII for an aggregate amount of $4.0 million (the “Comstock VIII Private Placement”). In connection with the Comstock VIII Private Placement, the Company issued 15 warrants for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock to the non-affiliated accredited investors, having an aggregate fair value of $131 thousand. Comstock VIII Class B Members included unrelated third-party accredited investors along with members of the Company’s board of directors and the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer. The Comstock VIII Class B Members are entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 20% per annum, compounded annually on their capital account balances. The Company has the right to repurchase the interests of the Comstock VIII Class B Members at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock VIII Class B Members’ interests are acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock VIII Class B Members’ capital accounts plus an amount necessary to cause the preferred return to equal a cumulative cash on cash return equal to 20% per annum. The Company evaluated Comstock VIII and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. In January 2017, the Company fully redeemed the remaining equity interest of Class B Members in Comstock VIII after paying $1.9 million in distributions.

In June 2015, Comstock Investors IX, L.C. (“Comstock IX”) entered into subscription agreements with third-party accredited investors (“Comstock IX Class B Members”), pursuant to which Comstock IX Class B Members purchased membership interests in Comstock IX for an aggregate amount of $2.5 million (the “Comstock IX Private Placement”). The Comstock IX Class B Members are entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 20% per annum, compounded annually on their capital account balances. The Company has the right to repurchase the interests of the Comstock IX Class B Members at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock IX Class B Members’ interests are acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock IX Class B Members’ capital accounts plus any amount necessary to cause the preferred return to equal a cumulative cash on cash return equal to 20% per annum. The Company evaluated Comstock IX and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits. Accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. In October 2017, the Company fully redeemed the remaining equity interest of Class B Members in Comstock IX after paying $3.5 million in distributions.

In August 2016, Comstock Investors X, L.C. (“Comstock X”) entered into a subscription agreement with an accredited investor (“Comstock X Class B Member”), pursuant to which the Comstock X Class B Member purchased membership interests in Comstock X for an initial amount of $5.0 million, which is part of an aggregate capital raise of $14.5 million (the “Comstock X Private Placement”). The Comstock X Class B Member is Comstock Development Services, LC (“CDS”), an entity wholly owned by Christopher Clemente, our Chief Executive Officer. In October 2016, the Comstock X Class B Member purchased additional interests in the Comstock X Private Placement in an amount of $9.5 million resulting in an aggregate subscription amount of $14.5 million. In connection with the Comstock X Private Placement, the Company issued a total of 150 warrants for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, having an aggregate fair value of $258. The Comstock X Member is entitled to a cumulative, preferred return of 6% per annum, compounded annually on the capital account balance. The Company has the right to repurchase the interest of the Comstock X Class B Member at any time, provided that (i) all of the Comstock X Class B Members’ interest is acquired, (ii) the purchase is made in cash and (iii) the purchase price equals the Comstock X Class B Members’ capital account plus accrued priority return. In October 2017, the Operating Agreement for Comstock X was amended to increase the maximum capital raise to $19.5 million. Additionally, in October 2017, Comstock X received proceeds of $5.0 million under the amended Operating Agreement to be used for the planned construction of the Company’s Totten Mews, Towns at 1333, Richmond Station, and Marwood East projects. As part of this additional contribution, 50,000 warrants for the purchase of the Company’s Class A common stock, having an aggregate fair value of $258. The Company evaluated Comstock X and determined that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and the Company was the primary beneficiary of the VIE as a result of its complete operational control of the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses, or receive benefits. Accordingly, the Company consolidates this entity. During 2018 and 2017, the Company distributed $1.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to its non-controlling interest member.

At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the distributions and contributions for the VIEs discussed above are included within the ‘non-controlling interest’ classification in the consolidated statement of changes in stockholder’s equity.

At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, total assets of these VIEs were approximately $19.3 million and $30.6 million, respectively, and total liabilities were approximately $12.6 million and $15.9 million, respectively. The classification of these assets is primarily within ‘real estate inventories’ and the classification of liabilities are primarily within ‘notes payable – secured by real estate inventories’ and ‘accounts payable and accrued liabilities’ in the consolidated balance sheets.

Land purchase options

The Company typically acquires land for development at market prices under fixed price purchase agreements. The purchase agreements require deposits that may be forfeited if the Company fails to perform under the agreements. The deposits required under the purchase agreements are in the form of cash or letters of credit in varying amounts. The Company may, at its option, choose for any reason and at any time not to perform under these purchase agreements by delivering notice of its intent not to acquire the land under contract. The Company’s sole legal obligation and economic loss for failure to perform under these purchase agreements is typically limited to the amount of the deposit pursuant to the liquidated damages provision contained within the purchase agreement. As a result, none of the creditors of any of the entities with which the Company enters into forward fixed price purchase agreements have recourse to the general credit of the Company.

The Company does not share in an allocation of either the profit earned or loss incurred by any of these entities with which the Company has fixed price purchase agreements. The Company has concluded that whenever it options land or lots from an entity and pays a significant non-refundable deposit as described above, a variable interest entity is created under the provisions of ASC 810-10, Consolidation . This is because the Company has been deemed to have provided subordinated financial support, which creates a variable interest which limits the equity holder’s returns and may absorb some or all of an entity’s expected theoretical losses if they occur. The Company, therefore, examines the entities with which it has fixed price purchase agreements for possible consolidation by the Company under the provision of ASC 810-10. The Company does not have any contractual or ownership interests in the entities with which it contracts to buy the land. The Company concluded that it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs, including the power to site plan and engineer the developments, finance the parcels under option contract, and develop the raw parcels under option contract into finished lots. The third party retains these rights under the fixed purchase price agreements until title is transferred to the Company upon settlement of the transaction, or a portion of the transactions as defined. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated these VIEs in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not have any outstanding land purchase options.