Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	$ 142,683	$ 79,186	$ 277,066	$ 170,193
Segment operating income	11,144	7,455	14,980	11,760
Unallocated income (expenses):
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	(5)	(5)	160	(10)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(3,820)	(4,016)	(11,756)	(12,264)
Interest expense	(1,840)	(2,841)	(7,503)	(2,952)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Loss before income taxes	5,520	678	(3,954)	(3,208)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	0	0	329
Net loss attributable to AV Homes	5,520	678	(3,954)	(3,537)
Segment assets	756,140		756,140		$ 668,886
Unallocated Revenues [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Interest income and other	41	85	165	258
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities	(5)	(5)	160	(10)
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(3,820)	(4,016)	(11,756)	(12,264)
Interest expense	(1,840)	(2,841)	(7,503)	(2,952)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Loss before income taxes	5,520	678	(3,954)	(3,208)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0	0	0	329
Geography Eliminations [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	62,250		62,250		216,940
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	89,589	69,183	197,149	137,530
Segment operating income	7,560	7,454	14,621	11,213
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	86,892	53,669	185,484	114,600
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	68,409	43,891	149,033	93,118
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	11,419	6,613	26,172	15,923
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	2,691	2,572	8,195	7,630
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	2,199	2,537	6,938	7,888
Florida [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Land Sales and Other [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	6	12,942	3,470	15,300
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	2	8,688	385	9,388
Florida [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	348,503		348,503		278,091
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	20,012	17,458	45,196	44,423
Segment operating income	484	539	(1,450)	1,784
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	20,012	17,458	45,196	30,555
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	16,497	14,660	38,704	25,640
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	3,009	2,209	7,846	5,150
Arizona [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Amenity [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	22	66	96	327
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	(16)	0	11,522
Arizona [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	179,004		179,004		145,380
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	44,226	0	49,701	0
Segment operating income	3,100	(538)	1,809	(1,237)
Carolinas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	44,226	0	49,701	0
Cost of Real Estate Revenue	36,182	0	41,174	0
Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative Expense	4,944	$ 538	6,718	$ 1,237
Carolinas [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Unallocated income (expenses):
Segment assets	$ 166,383		$ 166,383		$ 28,475