Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ (33,630)		$ (44,508)
Investing activities
Net proceeds from promissory notes from related parties	1,843		101,741
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	5,212		895
Investments in joint ventures	(1,183)		(15,800)
Other investing activities	809		7,898
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,021		93,839
Financing activities
Repayments on revolving lines of credit	0		(80,448)
Borrowings from financial institutions	0		750,000
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	(1,053)		(720,835)
Intercompany	0		0
Other financing activities	180		11,194
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	180		(40,089)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(27,429)		9,242
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	268,366		166,874
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	240,937		176,116
SHLP Corp
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(28,819)	[1]	(18,295)	[2]
Investing activities
Net proceeds from promissory notes from related parties			(2,026)	[2]
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	0	[1]
Investments in joint ventures			(300)	[2]
Other investing activities	50	[1]	(72)	[2]
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	50	[1]	(2,398)	[2]
Financing activities
Repayments on revolving lines of credit			(80,448)	[2]
Borrowings from financial institutions			750,000	[2]
Principal payments to financial institutions and others			(720,835)	[2]
Intercompany	11,860	[1]	(5,451)	[2]
Other financing activities	(854)	[1]	7,366	[2]
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	11,006	[1]	(49,368)	[2]
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(17,763)	[1]	(70,061)	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	157,511	[1],[3]	99,511	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	139,748	[1],[4]	29,450	[2]
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(29,883)		(21,379)
Investing activities
Net proceeds from promissory notes from related parties			(31,267)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	5,212
Investments in joint ventures			(86)
Other investing activities	1,543		2,445
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,755		(28,908)
Financing activities
Repayments on revolving lines of credit			0
Borrowings from financial institutions			0
Principal payments to financial institutions and others			0
Intercompany	14,613		127,993
Other financing activities	0		0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	14,613		127,993
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(8,515)		77,706
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	96,100		54,393
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	87,585		132,099
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	22,534		223
Investing activities
Net proceeds from promissory notes from related parties			(453)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	0
Investments in joint ventures			(15,414)
Other investing activities	(784)		5,525
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(784)		(10,342)
Financing activities
Repayments on revolving lines of credit			0
Borrowings from financial institutions			0
Principal payments to financial institutions and others			0
Intercompany	(23,935)		7,888
Other financing activities	1,034		3,828
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(22,901)		11,716
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(1,151)		1,597
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	14,755		12,970
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13,604		14,567
Consolidation, Eliminations
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	2,538		(5,057)
Investing activities
Net proceeds from promissory notes from related parties			135,487
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	0
Investments in joint ventures			0
Other investing activities	0		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0		135,487
Financing activities
Repayments on revolving lines of credit			0
Borrowings from financial institutions			0
Principal payments to financial institutions and others			0
Intercompany	(2,538)		(130,430)
Other financing activities	0		0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,538)		(130,430)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0		$ 0

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

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

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

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