Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sale of residential units	$ 365,164	$ 254,267	$ 200,650
Sale of land and lots	15,164	36,878	45,452
Total revenues	380,328	291,145	246,102
Cost of residential units	283,454	201,768	153,799
Cost of land and lots	10,499	27,125	34,082
Total cost of sales	293,953	228,893	187,881
Total gross profit	86,375	62,252	58,221
Salary expense	(21,871)	(16,272)	(11,428)
Management Fee Expense, Related Party	0	0	(1,266)
Selling, general and administrative expense	(16,758)	(13,704)	(9,840)
Operating profit	47,746	32,276	35,687
Interest expense	0	(281)	(1,393)
Other income, net	2,808	2,721	1,915
Income before taxes	50,554	34,716	36,209
Income tax provision (benefit)	15,381	9,171	(24,853)
Net income	35,173	25,545	61,062
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11,417	10,220	11,036
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	$ 23,756	$ 15,325	$ 50,026
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.38	$ 3.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.38	$ 3.40
Weighted average common shares used in the calculation of net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in shares)	48,879	40,068	14,712
Diluted (in shares)	48,886	40,099	14,712