Senior Notes And Secured Indebtedness (Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Feb. 24, 2012
Real estate inventories      
Goodwill   $ 14,200  
Deferred income taxes, net 95,580     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
8 1/2% Senior notes due November 15, 2020     283,500
Intercompany payables 0 0  
Successor [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents 171,672 71,075 80,532
Restricted cash 854 853  
Receivables 20,839 14,789  
Real estate inventories      
Owned 671,790 421,630  
Not owned 12,960 [1] 39,029 [1]  
Deferred loan costs 9,575 7,036  
Goodwill 14,209 14,209  
Intangibles 2,766 4,620  
Deferred income taxes, net 95,580 0  
Other assets 10,166 7,906  
Total assets 1,010,411 581,147  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 17,099 18,735  
Accrued expenses 60,203 41,770  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 12,960 39,029  
Total notes payable 38,060 13,248  
Liabilities 559,617 437,782  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   71,246  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity 428,179 62,712  
Noncontrolling interest 22,615 9,407  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity 1,010,411 581,147  
Successor [Member] | Delaware Lyon [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents        
Real estate inventories      
Deferred income taxes, net 0    
Investments in subsidiaries 428,179 62,712  
Total assets 428,179 62,712  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 0 0  
Accrued expenses 0 0  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 0 0  
Total notes payable 0 0  
Intercompany payables 0 0  
Liabilities 0 0  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   0  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity 428,179 62,712  
Noncontrolling interest 0 0  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity 428,179 62,712  
Successor [Member] | California Lyon [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents 166,516 69,376 76,158
Restricted cash 854 853  
Receivables 15,742 11,278  
Real estate inventories      
Owned 608,965 398,952  
Not owned 12,960 39,029  
Deferred loan costs 9,575 7,036  
Goodwill 14,209 14,209  
Intangibles 2,766 4,620  
Deferred income taxes, net 95,580    
Other assets 9,100 7,437  
Investments in subsidiaries 9,975 22,148  
Total assets 946,242 574,938  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 12,489 17,998  
Accrued expenses 59,375 41,505  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 12,960 39,029  
Total notes payable 12,281 7,809  
Intercompany payables 214,837 217,146  
Liabilities 743,237 648,487  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   71,246  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity 203,004 (144,795)  
Noncontrolling interest 0 0  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity 946,241 574,938  
Successor [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents 28 65 52
Receivables 72 296  
Real estate inventories      
Owned 3,761 13  
Deferred income taxes, net 0    
Other assets 723 146  
Intercompany receivables 225,056 207,239  
Total assets 229,640 207,759  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 1,959 39  
Accrued expenses 744 213  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 0 0  
Total notes payable 1,762 0  
Intercompany payables 0 0  
Liabilities 4,465 252  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   0  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity 225,175 207,507  
Noncontrolling interest 0 0  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity 229,640 207,759  
Successor [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents 5,128 1,634 4,322
Receivables 5,025 3,215  
Real estate inventories      
Owned 59,064 22,665  
Deferred income taxes, net 0    
Other assets 343 323  
Intercompany receivables (15) 18,935  
Total assets 69,545 46,772  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 2,651 698  
Accrued expenses 84 52  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 0 0  
Total notes payable 24,017 5,439  
Intercompany payables 10,204 9,028  
Liabilities 36,956 15,217  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   0  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity 9,975 22,148  
Noncontrolling interest 22,615 9,407  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity 69,546 46,772  
Successor [Member] | Eliminating Entries [Member]
      
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents        
Real estate inventories      
Deferred income taxes, net 0    
Investments in subsidiaries (438,154) (84,860)  
Intercompany receivables (225,041) (226,174)  
Total assets (663,195) (311,034)  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
Accounts payable 0 0  
Accrued expenses 0 0  
Liabilities from inventories not owned 0 0  
Total notes payable 0 0  
Intercompany payables (225,041) (226,174)  
Liabilities (225,041) (226,174)  
Redeemable convertible preferred stock   0  
(Deficit) equity      
William Lyon Homes stockholders' (deficit) equity (438,154) (84,860)  
Noncontrolling interest 0 0  
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity (663,195) (311,034)  
Successor [Member] | 8 1/2% Senior Notes Due November 15, 2020 [Member]
      
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
8 1/2% Senior notes due November 15, 2020 431,295 325,000  
Successor [Member] | 8 1/2% Senior Notes Due November 15, 2020 [Member] | California Lyon [Member]
      
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
8 1/2% Senior notes due November 15, 2020 $ 431,295 $ 325,000  
[1] Represents the consolidation of a land banking arrangement which does not obligate the Company to purchase the lots, however, based on certain factors, the Company has determined it is economically compelled to purchase the lots in the land banking arrangement, which has been consolidated. Amounts are net of deposits.