Note 16 - Results of Quarterly Operations (Unaudited) - Results of Quarterly Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Sep. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2020		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues																	$ 507,411		$ 669,349		$ 667,566
Impairments																	19,000		10,200		10,000
Gross margin																	41,645		53,142		61,900
Loss before taxes of taxable entities	$ (1,349)		$ 1,528		$ (41,222)		$ (18,413)		$ (6,952)		$ (4,778)		$ 2,565		$ (2,651)		(59,456)		(11,816)		(20,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	$ (1,238)		$ 1,188		$ (24,293)		$ (8,476)		$ (2,998)		$ (4,624)		$ 1,572		$ (1,987)		$ (32,819)		$ (8,037)		$ (14,216)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc.(1) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ (1.32)	[1]	$ (0.42)	[1]	$ (0.15)	[1]	$ (0.23)	[1]	$ 0.08	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]	$ (1.76)	[1]	$ (0.40)	[1]	$ (0.69)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc.(1) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ 0.06	[1]	$ (1.32)	[1]	$ (0.42)	[1]	$ (0.15)	[1]	$ (0.23)	[1]	$ 0.08	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]	$ (1.76)	[1]	$ (0.40)	[1]	$ (0.69)
Home Building [Member]
Revenues	$ 135,409		$ 117,426		$ 77,757		$ 95,659		$ 173,921		$ 118,781		$ 140,464		$ 99,186		$ 426,251		$ 532,352		$ 504,029
Cost of Sales	115,313		100,775		66,216		84,722		153,700		105,763		123,525		86,569		367,026		469,557		436,530
Impairments					19,000				6,600		1,700						19,000		8,300		10,000
Gross margin	20,096		16,651		(7,459)		10,937		13,621		11,318		16,939		12,617		40,225		54,495		57,499
Loss before taxes of taxable entities																	(60,876)		(13,868)		(24,706)
Land [Member]
Revenues					10		147		17,091		24,573						157		41,664
Cost of Sales					10		147		17,091		26,078						157		43,169
Impairments											1,900						0		1,900		0
Gross margin											(3,405)								(3,405)
Construction [Member]
Revenues	10,165		13,418		21,193		36,227		31,124		22,262		22,285		19,662		81,003		95,333		163,537
Cost of Sales	9,951		13,150		20,985		35,497		30,628		21,615		21,770		19,268		79,583		93,281		159,136
Gross margin	$ 214		$ 268		$ 208		$ 730		$ 496		$ 647		$ 515		$ 394		1,420		2,052		4,401
Loss before taxes of taxable entities																	$ 1,420		$ 2,052		$ 4,401

[1] Some amounts do not add to our full year results presented on our consolidated statement of operations due to rounding differences in quarterly and annual weighted average share calculations.