Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)	31,346,084us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Beginning balance	$ 181,597	$ 198,819
Share-based compensation	83
Contributions	45	0
Distributions	300	2,034
Net income	6,188us-gaap_ProfitLoss	9,816us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Ending balance (shares)	31,346,084us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Ending balance	187,613	206,601
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	9,739	9,709
Contributions	45	0
Distributions	300	1,157
Net income	2,170	2,467
Ending balance	11,654	11,019
Total Green Brick Partners, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	171,858	189,110
Share-based compensation	83
Contributions	0	0
Distributions	0	(877)
Net income	4,018	7,349
Ending balance	175,959	195,582
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)			31,346,084	11,108,500
Beginning balance			313	111
Ending balance (shares)	31,346,084	11,108,500	31,346,084	11,108,500
Ending balance	313	111	313	111
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	101,626	155,985
Share-based compensation	83
Contributions	0	0
Distributions	0	0
Ending balance	101,709	155,985
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	69,919	33,014
Contributions	0	0
Distributions	0	877
Net income	4,018	7,349
Ending balance	$ 73,937	$ 39,486

Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Contributions

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Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Distributions

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This element represents the amount of recognized equity-based compensation during the period, that is, the amount recognized as expense in the income statement (or as asset if compensation is capitalized). Alternate captions include the words "stock-based compensation".

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Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

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