Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Number of separate agreements with unrelated third parties						2
Number of limited liabilities formed						2
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Land and other inventories		$ 180,317		$ 180,317			$ 180,067
Property and equipment, net		38,076		38,076			37,976
Gain on sale of property	1,339			2,731
Joint venture percentage owned (in hundredths)		60.00%		60.00%
Gain recognized in consolidated statement of operations	803			1,639
Assets: [Abstract]
Total Assets		377,703		377,703			409,056
Liabilities and Partners' Capital: [Abstract]
Total liabilities and partners' capital		377,703		377,703			409,056
Statement of operations for unconsolidated entities [Abstract]
Revenues		28,652	14,703	74,328	55,281
Net loss and comprehensive income (loss)		(11,550)	(121,693)	(29,904)	(148,571)
AV Homes' share of loss from unconsolidated entities		(38)	(341)	(117)	(326)
Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Cash		76		76			197
Land and other inventories		6,928		6,928			6,928
Other Assets		3		3			11
Total Assets		7,007		7,007			7,136
Liabilities and Partners' Capital: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		1,892		1,892			1,900
Partners' Capital of AV Homes:		813		813			845
Partners' Capital of equity partner		4,302		4,302			4,391
Total liabilities and partners' capital		7,007		7,007			7,136
Statement of operations for unconsolidated entities [Abstract]
Revenues		0	2,205	0	6,081
Cost and expenses		93	1,953	287	5,620
Net loss and comprehensive income (loss)		(93)	252	(287)	461
AV Homes' share of loss from unconsolidated entities		(38)	341	(117)	326
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Land and other inventories		1,774		1,774			3,470
Property and equipment, net		1,017		1,017			1,049
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Contributions to unconsolidated entities				$ 98	$ 83
Minimum [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage equity interest (in hundredths)		20.00%		20.00%
Maximum [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage equity interest (in hundredths)		50.00%		50.00%