Net Income Attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —basic	$ 3,094	$ 4,018
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —basic (shares)	48,814	31,346
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (shares)	0	0
Basic net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.13
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —diluted	$ 3,094	$ 4,018
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —diluted (shares)	48,814	31,346
Diluted net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.13
Antidilutive options to purchase common stock (shares)	296	158