Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	$ 79,186	$ 34,075	$ 170,193	$ 86,521
Operating income (loss)	7,556	1,935	12,576	5,232
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(5)	(7)	(10)	(84)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(4,016)	(3,885)	(12,264)	(11,882)
Interest expense	(2,841)	1,020	(2,952)	(2,515)
Other real estate expenses	(114)	(1,255)	(868)	(2,654)
Impairment reversal		958
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	678	(978)	(3,208)	(10,402)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	899	329	899
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AV Homes stockholders	678	(1,877)	(3,537)	(11,301)
Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	39,736	19,097	83,678	41,259
Operating income (loss)	3,388	975	4,392	(1,458)
Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	37,783	17,304	77,802	35,910
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	30,127	13,662	61,774	28,877
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	4,191	2,390	11,664	7,663
Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	1,953	1,793	5,876	5,349
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	2,030	2,070	5,848	6,177
Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	33,875	15,070	68,934	38,161
Operating income (loss)	(187)	442	(199)	2,293
Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	33,345	14,658	67,353	36,330
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	28,431	12,132	56,991	28,762
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	5,169	1,960	10,637	5,183
Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	530	412	1,581	1,831
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	462	536	1,505	1,923
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial and Industrial and Other Land Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	12,942	674	29,168	9,556
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	8,672	95	20,910	5,352
Operating income (loss)	4,270	579	8,258	4,204
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues	88	57	173	496
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	3	118	48	303
Operating income (loss)	85	(61)	125	193
Unallocated Revenues [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Interest income and other	85	101	258	203
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(5)	(7)	(10)	(84)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	4,016	3,885	12,264	11,882
Interest expense	2,841	(1,020)	2,952	2,515
Other real estate expenses	101	1,100	816	2,314
Impairment reversal	0	958	0	958
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	678	(978)	(3,208)	(10,402)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	$ 0	$ 899	$ 329	$ 899