Basis of Financial Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avatar Holdings Inc. and all subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which Avatar Holdings Inc. (“Avatar”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has a controlling interest. Our investments in unconsolidated entities in which we have less than a controlling interest are accounted for using the equity method. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statement presentation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consisted only of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Due to Avatar's normal operating cycle being in excess of one year, we present unclassified balance sheets. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by United States generally accepted accounting principles. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2010 audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the notes to the consolidated financial statements included therein.

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avatar Holdings Inc. and all subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which Avatar Holdings Inc. (“Avatar”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has a controlling interest. Our investments in unconsolidated entities in which we have less than a controlling interest are accounted for using the equity method. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statement presentation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consisted only of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Due to Avatar's normal operating cycle being in excess of one year, we present unclassified balance sheets.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by United States generally accepted accounting principles. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2010 audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the notes to the consolidated financial statements included therein.