Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	$ 56,983	$ 41,092
Segment operating income	1,847	2,773
Unallocated income (expenses):
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	(6)	1
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(3,654)	(4,396)
Interest expense	(3,257)	(114)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(5,008)	(1,633)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	293
Net loss attributable to AV Homes	(5,008)	(1,926)
Segment assets	666,230		668,886
Goodwill	6,071		6,071
Unallocated Revenues [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Interest income and other	62	103
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	(6)	1
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(3,654)	(4,396)
Interest expense	(3,257)	(114)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(5,008)	(1,633)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	293
Segment assets	163,856		216,940
Florida [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Goodwill	6,100		6,100
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	47,387	25,742
Segment operating income	3,568	1,662
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	41,906	21,348
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	34,601	17,031
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	6,588	3,927
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	2,777	2,556
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	2,345	2,715
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Land Sales and Other [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	2,704	1,838
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	285	407
Arizona [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	160,502		145,380
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	9,907	18,123
Segment operating income	(1,066)	1,404
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	9,907	4,255
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	8,613	3,547
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	2,322	1,457
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	38	177
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Land Sales and Other [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	0	13,868
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	0	11,538
Carolinas [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	33,840		28,475
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	1,536	0
Segment operating income	(655)	(293)
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	1,536	0
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	1,375	0
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	$ 816	$ 293