Reportable Segments Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									$ 266,201,000	$ 133,314,000	$ 111,121,000
Operating income (loss)									20,788,000	11,039,000	(283,000)
Land sales									32,596,000	16,303,000	26,595,000
Land sales									22,003,000	8,111,000	18,581,000
Gains (Losses) on Restructuring of Debt									0	0	(1,144,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(6,000)	(5,000)	(6,000)	1,000	(17,000)	(7,000)	(15,000)	(63,000)	(16,000)	(101,000)	259,000
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
General and administrative expenses									(15,941,000)	(15,975,000)	(16,148,000)
Interest expense									(5,805,000)	(2,830,000)	(7,973,000)
Other real estate expenses									(1,076,000)	(2,904,000)	(6,312,000)
Segment operating income									0	281,000	(57,408,000)
Loss attributable to AV Homes	1,605,000	678,000	(2,253,000)	(1,633,000)	2,130,000	(978,000)	(4,668,000)	(4,759,000)	(1,603,000)	(8,272,000)	(87,683,000)
Assets	668,886,000				466,728,000				668,886,000	466,728,000
Assets held for sale	4,051,000				23,862,000				4,051,000	23,862,000
Inventory, Real Estate	383,184,000				240,078,000				383,184,000	240,078,000
Property and equipment, net	36,922,000				37,844,000				36,922,000	37,844,000
Investments in unconsolidated entities	17,991,000				1,230,000				17,991,000	1,230,000
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net	2,906,000				3,893,000				2,906,000	3,893,000
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	20,980,000				11,138,000				20,980,000	11,138,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									0	0	0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	0	36,000	293,000	306,000	899,000	0	0	329,000	1,205,000	2,552,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	1,605,000	678,000	(2,289,000)	(1,926,000)	1,824,000	(1,877,000)	(4,668,000)	(4,759,000)	(1,932,000)	(9,477,000)	(90,235,000)
Goodwill	6,071,000				0				6,071,000	0
Commercial and industrial and other land sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									10,593,000	8,192,000	8,014,000
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Assets	7,784,000				44,704,000				7,784,000	44,704,000
Active adult [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Segment operating income										0	(1,600,000)
Assets	197,773,000				145,717,000				197,773,000	145,717,000
Inventory, Real Estate	148,648,000				141,039,000				148,648,000	141,039,000
Depreciation									2,200,000	2,100,000	2,100,000
Primary residential [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Segment operating income										0	0
Assets	242,338,000				91,076,000				242,338,000	91,076,000
Inventory, Real Estate	224,177,000				88,996,000				224,177,000	88,996,000
Depreciation									400,000	0	100,000
Goodwill	6,100,000								6,100,000
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land sales									32,596,000	16,303,000	26,595,000
Land sales									22,003,000	8,111,000	18,581,000
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
Assets	216,940,000				161,369,000				216,940,000	161,369,000
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	196,500,000				148,300,000				196,500,000	148,300,000
Inventory, Real Estate	4,600,000				4,200,000				4,600,000	4,200,000
Property and equipment, net	2,700,000				1,900,000				2,700,000	1,900,000
Investments in unconsolidated entities	1,190,000				1,230,000				1,190,000	1,230,000
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net	2,000,000				2,900,000				2,000,000	2,900,000
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	10,100,000				2,800,000				10,100,000	2,800,000
Depreciation									700,000	700,000	500,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									132,332,000	76,589,000	43,032,000
Operating income (loss)									8,356,000	428,000	(8,919,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									120,926,000	48,062,000	35,936,000
Operating income (loss)									1,838,000	2,437,000	(9,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									59,000	528,000	598,000
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									58,000	546,000	(33,000)
Operating income (loss)									1,000	(18,000)	631,000
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest Income, Other									447,000	2,218,000	1,326,000
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities									(16,000)	(101,000)	259,000
Unallocated income (expenses) [Abstract]
General and administrative expenses									15,941,000	15,975,000	16,148,000
Interest expense									5,805,000	2,830,000	7,973,000
Loss attributable to AV Homes									(1,603,000)	(8,272,000)	(87,683,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									0	0	0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities									(329,000)	(1,205,000)	(2,552,000)
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									124,372,000	69,362,000	36,018,000
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									98,992,000	55,543,000	31,619,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									17,097,000	12,605,000	13,150,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									118,799,000	45,611,000	33,496,000
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									99,892,000	36,255,000	27,760,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									17,264,000	6,930,000	5,805,000
Amenity [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Active adult [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									7,960,000	7,227,000	7,014,000
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									7,887,000	8,013,000	7,182,000
Amenity [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Primary residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate revenues									2,127,000	2,451,000	2,440,000
Cost of Real Estate Revenue									$ 1,932,000	$ 2,440,000	$ 2,380,000