Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 240,937		$ 268,366		$ 176,116		$ 166,874
Restricted cash	13,859		13,718
Investments	29,025		32,428
Accounts and other receivables, net	127,488		120,689
Receivables from related parties, net	33,462		60,223
Inventory	794,761		783,810
Investments in joint ventures	18,032		17,870
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Property and equipment, net	1,953		1,992
Other assets, net	26,425		29,020
Total assets	1,285,942		1,328,116
Liabilities:
Notes payable	751,700		752,056
Payables to related parties	4,326		2,343
Accounts payable	35,751		46,063
Other liabilities	216,096		199,651
Intercompany	0		0
Total liabilities	1,007,873		1,000,113
SHLP equity:
Owners' equity	270,419		294,511
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,194		6,392
Total SHLP equity	277,613		300,903
Non-controlling interests	456		27,100
Total equity	278,069		328,003		329,136		432,313
Total liabilities and equity	1,285,942		1,328,116
SHLP Corp
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	139,748	[1],[2]	157,511	[1],[3]	29,450	[4]	99,511	[4]
Restricted cash	12,180	[2]	11,747	[3]
Investments	0	[2]	0	[3]
Accounts and other receivables, net	103,850	[2]	94,949	[3]
Receivables from related parties, net	9,086	[2]	8,147	[3]
Inventory	585,503	[2]	574,832	[3]
Investments in joint ventures	3,995	[2]	4,141	[3]
Investments in subsidiaries	660,984	[2]	698,886	[3]
Property and equipment, net	380	[2]	380	[3]
Other assets, net	18,464	[2]	18,851	[3]
Total assets	1,534,190	[2]	1,569,444	[3]
Liabilities:
Notes payable	751,700	[2]	751,457	[3]
Payables to related parties	20	[2]	0	[3]
Accounts payable	21,656	[2]	30,781	[3]
Other liabilities	150,364	[2]	140,992	[3]
Intercompany	332,837	[2]	345,311	[3]
Total liabilities	1,256,577	[2]	1,268,541	[3]
SHLP equity:
Owners' equity	270,419	[2]	294,511	[3]
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,194	[2]	6,392	[3]
Total SHLP equity	277,613	[2]	300,903	[3]
Non-controlling interests	0	[2]	0	[3]
Total equity	277,613	[2]	300,903	[3]
Total liabilities and equity	1,534,190	[2]	1,569,444	[3]
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	87,585		96,100		132,099		54,393
Restricted cash	1,190		1,538
Investments	29,025		32,428
Accounts and other receivables, net	22,442		22,208
Receivables from related parties, net	24,357		26,753
Inventory	208,635		173,333
Investments in joint ventures	1,063		1,265
Investments in subsidiaries	74,772		85,118
Property and equipment, net	1,573		1,612
Other assets, net	7,923		10,057
Total assets	458,565		450,412
Liabilities:
Notes payable	0		0
Payables to related parties	0		0
Accounts payable	13,722		15,453
Other liabilities	37,434		36,954
Intercompany	(351,149)		(365,259)
Total liabilities	(299,993)		(312,852)
SHLP equity:
Owners' equity	751,364		756,872
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,194		6,392
Total SHLP equity	758,558		763,264
Non-controlling interests	0		0
Total equity	758,558		763,264
Total liabilities and equity	458,565		450,412
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	13,604		14,755		14,567		12,970
Restricted cash	489		433
Investments	0		0
Accounts and other receivables, net	38,442		39,520
Receivables from related parties, net	19		25,323
Inventory	1,676		36,857
Investments in joint ventures	12,974		12,464
Investments in subsidiaries	96,063		98,555
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Other assets, net	38		112
Total assets	163,305		228,019
Liabilities:
Notes payable	0		599
Payables to related parties	0		1
Accounts payable	414		377
Other liabilities	66,556		58,931
Intercompany	22,618		21,714
Total liabilities	89,588		81,622
SHLP equity:
Owners' equity	73,261		119,297
Accumulated other comprehensive income	0		0
Total SHLP equity	73,261		119,297
Non-controlling interests	456		27,100
Total equity	73,717		146,397
Total liabilities and equity	163,305		228,019
Consolidation, Eliminations
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0		0
Restricted cash	0		0
Investments	0		0
Accounts and other receivables, net	(37,246)		(35,988)
Receivables from related parties, net	0		0
Inventory	(1,053)		(1,212)
Investments in joint ventures	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	(831,819)		(882,559)
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Other assets, net	0		0
Total assets	(870,118)		(919,759)
Liabilities:
Notes payable	0		0
Payables to related parties	4,306		2,342
Accounts payable	(41)		(548)
Other liabilities	(38,258)		(37,226)
Intercompany	(4,306)		(1,766)
Total liabilities	(38,299)		(37,198)
SHLP equity:
Owners' equity	(824,625)		(876,169)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(7,194)		(6,392)
Total SHLP equity	(831,819)		(882,561)
Non-controlling interests	0		0
Total equity	(831,819)		(882,561)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (870,118)		$ (919,759)

[1] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2012.

[2] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at June 30, 2012 was not material.

[3] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at December 31, 2011 was not material.

[4] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp. since inception on April 26, 2011; no significant activity occurred for the financial statement period presented above.