Variable Interest Entities Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Assets, Pledged [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Text Block]

3. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Our controlled builders’ creditors have no recourse against us. As of September 30, 2019, the assets of two of our consolidated controlled builders can only be used to settle obligations of those controlled builders. The assets of our VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs as of September 30, 2019 totaled $85.2 million, of which $0.6 million was cash and $75.3 million was inventory. The assets of our VIEs that could be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs as of December 31, 2018 totaled $76.3 million, of which $0.7 million was cash and $66.6 million was inventory. However, as we have voting control over these builders, it is ultimately within the control of Green Brick Partners, Inc. whether the assets of these VIEs are utilized to settle obligations of Green Brick Partners, Inc.

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Assets, Pledged

$ 85.2

$ 76.3

Cash [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Assets, Pledged

0.6

0.7

Inventories [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Assets, Pledged

$ 75.3

$ 66.6