Segment Information - Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating income (loss):
Homebuilding revenues	$ 201,724	$ 201,821	$ 547,268	$ 507,659
Amenity and other	3,875	3,315	12,637	8,834
Land sales	140	291	2,576	1,120
Total revenues	205,739	205,427	562,481	517,613
Expenses
Homebuilding cost of revenue	168,555	163,911	454,020	414,290
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	27,085	25,484	76,470	71,639
Amenity and other	3,167	3,101	11,063	8,057
Land sales	124	295	1,286	685
Unallocated income (expenses):
Interest income and other	407		665	1
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(6,939)		(9,872)
Interest expense	(2,625)	(701)	(7,147)	(2,853)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,349)	11,935	3,288	20,090
Income tax expense (benefit)	872	(38)	(1,679)	109,959
Net income (loss) attributable to AV Homes stockholders and comprehensive income (loss)	(1,477)	11,897	1,609	130,049
Operating Segments
Expenses
Segment operating income (loss)	11,468	16,333	33,967	34,909
Corporate, Non-Segment
Unallocated income (expenses):
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(4,660)	(3,697)	(14,325)	(11,967)
Florida | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Homebuilding revenues	81,796	96,943	231,395	251,587
Amenity and other	3,875	3,315	12,637	8,834
Land sales	30	26	1,499	670
Total revenues	85,701	100,284	245,531	261,091
Expenses
Homebuilding cost of revenue	64,739	74,872	183,373	196,045
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	9,837	12,189	28,241	33,374
Amenity and other	3,145	3,075	11,000	7,978
Land sales	14	6	210	225
Segment operating income (loss)	7,966	10,142	22,707	23,469
Carolinas | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Homebuilding revenues	84,893	62,864	214,255	151,817
Land sales	110	265	892	265
Total revenues	85,003	63,129	215,147	152,082
Expenses
Homebuilding cost of revenue	74,376	53,803	184,557	130,573
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	8,791	5,744	22,954	15,525
Land sales	110	289	896	289
Segment operating income (loss)	1,726	3,293	6,740	5,695
Arizona | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Homebuilding revenues	35,035	42,014	101,618	104,255
Land sales			185	185
Total revenues	35,035	42,014	101,803	104,440
Expenses
Homebuilding cost of revenue	29,440	35,236	86,090	87,672
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	3,797	3,854	10,950	10,773
Amenity and other	22	26	63	79
Land sales			180	171
Segment operating income (loss)	$ 1,776	$ 2,898	$ 4,520	$ 5,745