Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 98,960		$ 162,749	$ 230,993	$ 281,597
Cost of Sales:
Cost of Sales	106,211		145,295	226,577	251,132
Impairments	19,000		0	19,000	0
Gross Margin:
Gross margin	(7,251)		17,454	4,416	30,465
Selling and marketing expenses	(6,386)		(9,683)	(13,852)	(18,362)
General and administrative expenses	(6,892)		(5,841)	(12,915)	(13,232)
Equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(19,962)		185	(21,899)	369
Interest expense	(1,271)		0	(1,989)	0
Project abandonment costs	(94)	$ (14,000)	(14)	(14,130)	(19)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	702		552	579	969
Other income (expense), net	(68)		(88)	155	(276)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	(41,222)		2,565	(59,635)	(86)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	16,929		(974)	26,866	(310)
Net income (loss)	(24,293)		1,591	(32,769)	(396)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest	0		(19)	0	(19)
Net income (loss) attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	$ (24,293)		$ 1,572	$ (32,769)	$ (415)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.32)		$ 0.08	$ (1.71)	$ (0.02)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.32)		$ 0.08	$ (1.71)	$ (0.02)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	18,341,549		20,070,914	19,146,687	20,028,600
Diluted (in shares)	18,341,549		20,095,533	19,146,687	20,028,600
Home Building [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 77,757		$ 140,464	$ 173,416	$ 239,650
Cost of Sales:
Cost of Sales	66,216		123,525	150,938	210,094
Impairments	19,000		0	19,000	0
Gross Margin:
Gross margin	(7,459)		16,939	3,478	29,556
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	(41,430)		2,050	(60,573)	(995)
Land [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	10		0	157	0
Cost of Sales:
Cost of Sales	10		0	157	0
Gross Margin:
Gross margin	0		0	0	0
Construction [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	21,193		22,285	57,420	41,947
Cost of Sales:
Cost of Sales	20,985		21,770	56,482	41,038
Gross Margin:
Gross margin	208		515	938	909
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	$ 208		$ 515	$ 938	$ 909