Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	$ 77,400	$ 49,912	$ 134,383	$ 91,006
Segment operating income	1,989	1,535	3,836	4,306
Unallocated income (expenses):
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	171	(6)	165	(5)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(4,282)	(3,852)	(7,936)	(8,248)
Interest expense	(2,406)	0	(5,663)	(111)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(4,466)	(2,253)	(9,474)	(3,885)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	36	0	329
Net loss attributable to AV Homes	(4,466)	(2,289)	(9,474)	(4,214)
Segment assets	704,552		704,552		$ 668,886
Unallocated Revenues [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Interest income and other	62	70	124	173
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	171	(6)	165	(5)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(4,282)	(3,852)	(7,936)	(8,248)
Interest expense	(2,406)	0	(5,663)	(111)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(4,466)	(2,253)	(9,474)	(3,885)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	36	0	329
Geography Eliminations [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	154,541		154,541		216,940
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	60,173	42,605	107,560	68,347
Segment operating income	3,493	2,098	7,061	3,759
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	56,686	39,583	98,592	60,931
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	46,023	32,196	80,624	49,227
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	8,165	5,380	14,753	9,310
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	2,727	2,502	5,504	5,058
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	2,394	2,637	4,739	5,351
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Land Sales and Other [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	760	520	3,464	2,358
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	98	294	383	700
Florida [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	343,390		343,390		278,091
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	15,277	8,842	25,184	26,965
Segment operating income	(868)	(157)	(1,934)	1,246
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	15,277	8,842	25,184	13,097
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	13,594	7,433	22,207	10,980
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	2,515	1,484	4,837	2,940
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	36	82	74	261
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Land Sales and Other [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	0	0	0	13,868
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	0	0	0	11,538
Arizona [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	168,990		168,990		145,380
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	3,939	0	5,475	0
Segment operating income	(636)	(406)	(1,291)	(699)
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	3,939	0	5,475	0
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	3,617	0	4,992	0
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	958	$ 406	1,774	$ 699
Carolinas [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	$ 37,631		$ 37,631		$ 28,475