Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sale of residential units	$ 254,267	$ 200,650	$ 168,591
Sale of land and lots	36,878	45,452	33,735
Total revenues	291,145	246,102	202,326
Cost of residential units	196,529	149,809	122,781
Cost of land and lots	27,125	34,082	21,513
Total cost of sales	223,654	183,891	144,294
Total gross profit	67,491	62,211	58,032
Salary expense	(20,685)	(14,868)	(10,251)
Management fees expense – related party	0	(1,266)	(1,016)
Selling, general and administrative expense	(13,665)	(10,099)	(6,623)
Operating profit	33,141	35,978	40,142
Interest expense	(281)	(1,393)	(315)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(865)	(291)	(127)
Interest and fees income	0	265	2,503
Interest on direct financing leases income	13	781	1,039
Profit participation on notes receivable	0	0	597
Other income, net	2,708	869	804
Income before taxes	34,716	36,209	44,643
Income tax provision (benefit)	9,171	(24,853)	327
Net income	25,545	61,062	44,316
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	10,220	11,036	12,309
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	$ 15,325	$ 50,026	$ 32,007
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 3.40	$ 2.88
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 3.40	$ 2.88
Weighted average common shares used in the calculation of net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in shares)	40,068	14,712	11,109
Diluted (in shares)	40,099	14,712	11,109