Net Income Attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —basic	$ 6,743	$ 3,788	$ 9,837	$ 7,806
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —basic (shares)	48,894	31,346	48,852	31,346
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (shares)	0	7	0	4
Basic net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.20	$ 0.25
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —diluted	$ 6,743	$ 3,788	$ 9,837	$ 7,806
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —diluted (shares)	48,894	31,353	48,852	31,350
Diluted net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.20	$ 0.25
Antidilutive options to purchase common stock (shares)	150	42	223	100