Net Income Attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —basic	$ 6,243	$ 2,826	$ 16,080	$ 10,632
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —basic (shares)	48,899	48,495	48,868	37,125
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (shares)	8	100	3	36
Basic net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.06	$ 0.33	$ 0.29
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —diluted	$ 6,243	$ 2,826	$ 16,080	$ 10,632
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —diluted (shares)	48,907	48,595	48,871	37,161
Diluted net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.06	$ 0.33	$ 0.29
Antidilutive options to purchase common stock (shares)	113	0	186	67