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, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —basic	$ 6,197	$ 3,094
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —basic (shares)	48,958	48,814
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (shares)	59	0
Basic net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.06
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. —diluted	$ 6,197	$ 3,094
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —diluted (shares)	49,017	48,814
Diluted net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per share (usd per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.06
Antidilutive options to purchase common stock (shares)	0	296

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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