Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 221,697	$ 220,775	$ 205	$ 194,437	$ 26,133	$ 922
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015			20,543,130
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	21,022
Net income (loss)	20,926	21,022			21,022	(96)
Noncontrolling interest distribution	(725)					(725)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,471	3,471		3,471
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans, shares			(62,597)
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans	(648)	(648)		(648)
Excess tax provision from stock-based compensation	(97)	(97)		(97)
Shares issued through stock plans	0	0	$ 2	(2)
Shares issued through stock plans, shares			231,633
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	244,624	244,523	$ 207	197,161	47,155	101
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			20,712,166
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	17,152
Net income (loss)	17,141	17,152			17,152	(11)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,803	2,803		2,803
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans, shares			(56,092)
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans	(590)	(590)		(590)
Shares issued through stock plans	102	102	$ 2	100
Shares issued through stock plans, shares			220,763
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	264,080	263,990	$ 209	199,474	64,307	90
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017			20,876,837
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASC 606 and ASU 2018-07	(3,365)	(3,365)		(18)	(3,347)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The New Home Company Inc.	(14,216)
Net income (loss)	(14,230)	(14,216)				(14)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,090	3,090		3,090
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans, shares			(86,692)
Shares net settled with the Company to satisfy employee personal income tax liabilities resulting from share based compensation plans	(982)	(982)		(982)
Shares issued through stock plans	0	0	$ 2	(2)
Shares issued through stock plans, shares			271,875
Repurchase of common stock	(8,563)	(8,563)	$ (10)	(8,430)	(123)
Repurchase of common stock, shares			(1,003,116)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 240,030	$ 239,954	$ 201	$ 193,132	$ 46,621	$ 76
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018			20,058,904