Pro Forma Net (Loss) Income and (Loss) Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings per Share, Pro Forma [Line Items]
(Loss) income before taxes									$ 33,911	$ 5,003	$ 6,996
Provision for income taxes									12,533	246	290
Net income									21,378	4,757	6,706
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									310	30	0
Net income attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	$ 12,226	$ 4,444	$ 449	$ 4,569	$ 5,320	$ (1,059)	$ (1,045)	$ 1,571	$ 21,688	4,787	6,706
Pro Forma
Earnings per Share, Pro Forma [Line Items]
Provision for income taxes										(1,648)	1,017
Net income										3,355	5,979
Net income attributable to The New Home Company Inc.										$ 3,385	$ 5,979
Pro forma basic earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc.										$ 0.21	$ 0.76
Pro forma diluted earnings per share attributable to The New Home Company Inc.										$ 0.21	$ 0.76