Pro Forma Net (Loss) Income and (Loss) Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings per Share, Pro Forma [Line Items]
(Loss) income before taxes	$ 6,594	$ (1,821)	$ 14,440	$ (3,349)
(Provision) benefit for taxes	(2,249)	556	(5,275)	2,576
Net income (loss)	4,345	(1,265)	9,165	(773)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	99	206	297	240
Net income (Loss) attributable to The New Home Company Inc	$ 4,444	$ (1,059)	$ 9,462	(533)
Pro forma basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc. (in dollars per share)		$ (0.06)
Pro forma diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc. (in dollars per share)		$ (0.06)
Pro Forma
Earnings per Share, Pro Forma [Line Items]
(Provision) benefit for taxes		$ 655		1,232
Net income (loss)		(1,166)		(2,117)
Net income (Loss) attributable to The New Home Company Inc		$ (960)		$ (1,877)
Pro forma basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc. (in dollars per share)				$ (0.12)
Pro forma diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc. (in dollars per share)				$ (0.12)