Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sale of residential units	$ 100,345	$ 93,732	$ 193,742	$ 160,360
Sale of land and lots	4,606	5,204	10,546	8,534
Total revenues	104,951	98,936	204,288	168,894
Cost of residential units	78,553	73,447	152,314	126,651
Cost of land and lots	3,472	3,373	7,762	5,713
Total cost of sales	82,025	76,820	160,076	132,364
Total gross profit	22,926	22,116	44,212	36,530
Salary expense	(5,332)	(5,537)	(10,767)	(10,631)
Selling, general and administrative expense	(4,167)	(4,251)	(8,445)	(8,144)
Operating profit	13,427	12,328	25,000	17,755
Other income, net	386	1,320	928	1,836
Income before provision for income taxes	13,813	13,648	25,928	19,591
Income tax provision	4,382	4,230	8,271	5,683
Net income	9,431	9,418	17,657	13,908
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,742	2,675	3,771	4,071
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	$ 7,689	$ 6,743	$ 13,886	$ 9,837
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 0.28	$ 0.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 0.28	$ 0.20
Weighted average common shares used in the calculation of net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —basic (shares)	49,047	48,894	49,003	48,852
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding —diluted (shares)	49,123	48,894	49,070	48,852