Variable Interest Entities, Part 2 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Land and other inventories	$ 180,826		$ 171,044
Gain on sale of property	2,731
Joint venture percentage owned (in hundredths)	60.00%
Gain recognized in consolidated statement of operations	1,639
Assets: [Abstract]
Total Assets	332,277		337,871
Liabilities and Partners' Capital: [Abstract]
Total Liabilities and Equity	332,277		337,871
Statement of operations for unconsolidated entities [Abstract]
Revenues	25,119	26,710
Net loss from unconsolidated entities	(4,759)	(6,923)
AV Homes' share of loss from unconsolidated entities	(63)	(36)
Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Cash	147		53
Land and other inventories	6,126		6,126
Other Assets	6		6
Total Assets	6,279		6,185
Liabilities and Partners' Capital: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	82		83
Partners' Capital of AV Homes:	1,240		1,220
Partners' Capital of equity partner	4,957		4,882
Total Liabilities and Equity	6,279		6,185
Statement of operations for unconsolidated entities [Abstract]
Revenues	0	0
Cost and expenses	138	91
Net loss from unconsolidated entities	(138)	(91)
AV Homes' share of loss from unconsolidated entities	(63)	(36)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Land and other inventories	32,972		32,659
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Contributions to unconsolidated entities	$ 83	$ 30
EM 646 [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Joint venture percentage owned (in hundredths)	58.20%