Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									$ 141,482	$ 106,161	$ 87,869
Interest income									2,148	127	309
Other									70	1,199	1,090
Total revenues	54,025	34,999	29,556	25,119	33,159	28,652	18,966	26,710	143,700	107,487	88,982
Operating income (loss)									11,039	(283)	(15,924)
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Interest income									2,148	127	309
Loss on extinguishment of debt									0	(1,144)	(211)
Loss from unconsolidated entities	(17)	(7)	(15)	(63)	376	(38)	(43)	(36)	(101)	259	(398)
General and administrative expenses									(15,975)	(16,148)	(17,502)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration									0	0	4,388
Impairment of goodwill										0	17,215
Interest expense									(2,830)	(7,973)	(9,516)
(Impairment) credit of land developed or held for future development	(677)								281	(49,749)	(107,981)
Loss attributable to AV Homes	2,130	(978)	(4,668)	(4,759)	(57,779)	(11,550)	(11,431)	(6,923)	(8,272)	(87,683)	(165,704)
Assets	466,728				337,871				466,728	337,871
Assets held for sale	23,862				25,649				23,862	25,649
Inventory, Real Estate	240,078				171,044				240,078	171,044
Property and equipment, net	37,844				36,661				37,844	36,661
Investments in unconsolidated entities	1,230				1,220				1,230	1,220
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net	3,893				6,730				3,893	6,730
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	11,138				10,777				11,138	10,777
Active adult [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									76,589	43,032	39,934
Operating income (loss)									428	(8,919)	(12,188)
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
(Impairment) credit of land developed or held for future development									(32)	(1,620)	(1,060)
Assets	145,717				89,793				145,717	89,793
Inventory, Real Estate	141,039				126,841				141,039	126,841
Depreciation									2,085	2,069	2,167
Primary residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									48,062	35,936	15,272
Operating income (loss)									2,437	(9)	(7,527)
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
(Impairment) credit of land developed or held for future development									(1)	(15)	(467)
Assets	91,076				56,951				91,076	56,951
Inventory, Real Estate	88,996				30,677				88,996	30,677
Depreciation									46	90	546
Commercial and Industrial and Other Land Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									16,303	26,595	31,731
Operating income (loss)									8,192	8,014	3,632
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Assets	44,704				30,095				44,704	30,095
Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									528	598	932
Operating income (loss)									(18)	631	159
Unallocated Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income									2,148	127	309
Other									70	1,199	804
Total revenues									143,700	107,487	88,982
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Loss from unconsolidated entities									(101)	259	(398)
General and administrative expenses									(15,975)	(16,148)	(17,502)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration									0	0	4,388
Impairment of Poinciana Parkway									0	(7,659)	0
Impairment of goodwill									0	0	(17,215)
Interest expense									(2,830)	(7,973)	(9,516)
Other real estate expenses									(2,834)	(5,113)	(1,654)
Loss attributable to AV Homes									(8,272)	(87,683)	(165,704)
Assets	161,369				135,383				161,369	135,383
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	148,333				86,163				148,333	86,163
Inventory, Real Estate	4,199				36,715				4,199	36,715
Property and equipment, net	1,902				2,164				1,902	2,164
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net	2,898				4,661				2,898	4,661
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	2,807				4,459				2,807	4,459
Depreciation									$ 673	$ 476	$ 124