Basis of Financial Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Note A -Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AV Homes, Inc. and all subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which AV Homes, Inc. ("AV Homes", "Company", "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 September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") 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 GAAP 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 GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2011 audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the notes to the consolidated financial statements included therein. Certain prior year amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2012 presentation.

Note A -Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AV Homes, Inc. and all subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which AV Homes, Inc. ("AV Homes", "Company", "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 September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") 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 GAAP 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 GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2011 audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the notes to the consolidated financial statements included therein.

Certain prior year amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2012 presentation.