Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	$ 28,526	$ 13,974	$ 73,765	$ 53,954
Interest income	32	95	95	395
Other	94	622	468	922
Total revenues	28,652	14,703	74,328	55,281
Operating income (loss)	(4,975)	(41,783)	(6,661)	(42,514)
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,144)	0	(1,144)	(211)
Equity loss from unconsolidated entities	(38)	(341)	(117)	(326)
Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(33)	132	(1,475)	387
General and administrative expenses	(3,633)	(5,093)	(10,296)	(12,865)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			0	(4,388)
Interest expense	(1,903)	(2,437)	(6,256)	(7,230)
Impairment of Goodwill			0	17,215
Loss before income taxes attributable to AV Homes	(11,583)	(121,911)	(31,379)	(148,534)
Active Adult Communities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	9,376	10,793	29,272	28,066
Operating income (loss)	(5,802)	(2,306)	(11,060)	(7,756)
Primary Residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	10,297	2,813	23,373	9,752
Operating income (loss)	292	(37,650)	(917)	(39,864)
Commercial and Industrial and Other Land Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	8,696	220	20,753	15,285
Operating income (loss)	448	(1,833)	5,161	4,984
Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	157	148	367	851
Operating income (loss)	87	7	155	122
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	32	95	95	395
Other	94	634	468	932
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Interest Income	32	95	95	395
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,144)	0	(1,144)	(211)
Equity loss from unconsolidated entities	(38)	(341)	(117)	(326)
Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(33)	132	(1,475)	387
General and administrative expenses	(3,633)	(5,093)	(10,296)	(12,865)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	3,366	0	4,388
Interest expense	(1,903)	(2,437)	(6,256)	(7,230)
Other real estate expenses	125	(2,002)	(6,224)	(3,610)
Impairment of Goodwill	0	(17,215)	0	(17,215)
Impairment of land developed or held for future development	$ (14)	$ (56,633)	$ (2,861)	$ (69,733)