Shea Homes Limited Partnership 10-Q 13 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]	'
Document Type	'10-Q
Amendment Flag	'false
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3
Entity Registrant Name	'SHEA HOMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	'0001531744
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	0

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$139,282	$206,205	$143,198	$279,756
Restricted cash	494	1,189	'	'
Accounts and other receivables, net	145,957	147,499	'	'
Receivables from related parties, net	23,152	32,350	'	'
Inventory	1,178,108	1,013,272	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	58,436	47,748	'	'
Other assets, net	58,216	57,070	'	'
Total assets	1,603,645	1,505,333	'	'
Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Notes payable	761,740	751,708	'	'
Payables to related parties	7,098	21	'	'
Accounts payable	51,522	62,346	'	'
Other liabilities	288,081	245,801	'	'
Total liabilities	1,108,441	1,059,876	'	'
SHLP equity:	'	'	'	'
Owners' equity	489,691	440,268	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,122	4,788	'	'
Total SHLP equity	494,813	445,056	'	'
Non-controlling interests	391	401	'	'
Total equity	495,204	445,457	371,694	319,247
Total liabilities and equity	$1,603,645	$1,505,333	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues	$284,489		$238,309		$720,687		$590,579
Cost of sales	-216,595		-182,461		-547,663		-454,769
Gross margin	67,894		55,848		173,024		135,810
Selling expenses	-15,482		-14,291		-41,836		-37,293
General and administrative expenses	-16,433		-14,097		-47,957		-40,132
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	288		-616		2,106		-770
Gain on reinsurance transaction	4,001		1,758		6,175		1,599
Interest expense	-160	[1]	-145	[1]	-436	[1]	-4,975	[1]
Other expense	-324		-1,350		-792		-343
Income before income taxes	39,784		27,107		90,284		53,896
Income tax expense	-6,053		-1,281		-16,555		-1,701
Net income	33,731		25,826		73,729		52,195
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	18		-2		25		1
Net income attributable to SHLP	$33,749		$25,824		$73,754		$52,196
[1]	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, qualifying assets exceeded debt, therefore no interest on the Secured Notes (see Note 10) was expensed; interest expense represents fees charged on the unused revolving credit facility that is not considered a cost of borrowing and is not capitalized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, assets qualifying for interest capitalization were less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net income	$33,731	$25,826	$73,729	$52,195
Other comprehensive income, before tax	'	'	'	'
Unrealized investment holding gains	96	95	591	520
Less: Reclassification adjustments for investment gains included in net income	0	-2	0	-39
Comprehensive income, before tax	33,827	25,919	74,320	52,676
Income tax expense	-75	-78	-257	-229
Comprehensive income, net of tax	33,752	25,841	74,063	52,447
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	18	-2	25	1
Comprehensive income attributable to SHLP	$33,770	$25,839	$74,088	$52,448

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $)		Total	Members Equity	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Parent	Noncontrolling Interest	Limited Partner	Limited Partner	Limited Partner	General Partner
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified							Series B Preferred Stock	Series D Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$319,247	$314,321	$4,517	$318,838	$409	$173,555	$138,413	$1,863	$490
Comprehensive income (loss):		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)		52,195	52,196	0	52,196	-1	14,013	38,183	0	0
Change in unrealized gains on investments, net		252	0	252	252	0	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income, net of tax		52,447	'	'	52,448	-1	'	'	'	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013		371,694	366,517	4,769	371,286	408	187,568	176,596	1,863	490
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		445,457	440,268	4,788	445,056	401	216,934	177,866	35,996	9,472
Comprehensive income (loss):		'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)		73,729	73,754	0	73,754	-25	1,444	3,358	54,587	14,365
Change in unrealized gains on investments, net		334	0	334	334	0	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income, net of tax		74,063	'	'	74,088	-25	'	'	'	'
Contributions from owners and non-controlling interests	[1]	960	945	0	945	15	0	0	748	197
Distributions to owners	[2]	-25,276	-25,276	0	-25,276	0	0	0	-20,010	-5,266
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2014		$495,204	$489,691	$5,122	$494,813	$391	$218,378	$181,224	$71,321	$18,768
[1]	In February 2014, the Company sold property to a related party under common control and, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), $0.9 million of consideration received in excess of the net book value was recorded as a contribution from owners.
[2]	In January 2014, the Company acquired property from a related party under common control for $4.4 million of cash, assumption of a $1.3 million net liability, and estimated future revenue participation payments of $19.6 million. The $25.3 million of consideration was recorded as a distribution to owners.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014
Distribution to owners	$25,300,000
Partners	'
Payment for acquisition of property	4,400,000
Payment for acquisition of net liability	1,300,000
Partners | Future revenue participation payments	'
Future payment for acquisition of property	$19,600,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating activities	'	'
Net income	$73,729	$52,195
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:	'	'
Equity in (income) loss from joint ventures	-2,106	770
Gain on reinsurance transaction	-6,175	-1,599
Net gain on sale of available-for-sale investments	0	-15
Depreciation and amortization expense	8,088	7,312
Interest capitalized on investment in joint ventures	-2,565	-1,473
Distributions of earnings from joint ventures	9,425	6,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Restricted cash	695	10,835
Receivables and other assets	337	-3,577
Inventory	-169,983	-212,623
Payables and other liabilities	20,433	17,726
Net cash used in operating activities	-68,122	-124,449
Investing activities	'	'
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments	174	3,163
Advances on promissory notes from related parties	-4,091	-1,170
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	13,306	4,207
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	-11,528	-20,138
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	9,102	3,822
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,963	-10,116
Financing activities	'	'
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	-2,339	-1,993
Contributions from non-controlling interests	15	0
Contributions from owners	945	0
Distributions to owners	-4,385	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-5,764	-1,993
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-66,923	-136,558
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	206,205	279,756
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$139,282	$143,198

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Basis of Presentation	'
	1. Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shea Homes Limited Partnership (“SHLP”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Shea Homes, Inc. (“SHI”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company consolidates all joint ventures in which it has a controlling interest or other ventures in which it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2013. Adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring accruals and loss reserves, considered necessary for a fair presentation, are included.
	Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we”, “us”, “our” and “the Company” refer to SHLP, its subsidiaries and its consolidated joint ventures.
	Organization
	SHLP, a California limited partnership, was formed January 4, 1989, pursuant to an agreement of partnership (the “Agreement”), as most recently amended August 6, 2013, by and between J.F. Shea, G.P., a Delaware general partnership, as general partner, and the Company’s limited partners who are comprised of entities and trusts, including J.F. Shea Co., Inc. (“JFSCI”), that are under common control of Shea family members (collectively, the “Partners”). J.F. Shea, G.P. is 96% owned by JFSCI.
	Nature of Operations
	Our principal business purpose is homebuilding, which includes acquiring and developing land and constructing and selling new residential homes thereon. To a lesser degree, we develop and sell lots to other homebuilders. Our principal markets are California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Nevada, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Texas.
	We own a captive insurance company, Partners Insurance Company, Inc. (“PIC”), which provided warranty, general liability, workers’ compensation and completed operations insurance for related companies and third-party subcontractors. Effective for the policy years commencing in 2007, PIC ceased issuing policies for these coverages (see Note 11).
	Seasonality
	Historically, the homebuilding industry experiences seasonal fluctuations. We typically experience the highest home sales order activity in spring and summer, although this activity is also highly dependent on the number of active selling communities, timing of community openings and other market factors. Since it typically takes three to eight months to construct a home, we close more homes in the second half of the year as spring and summer home sales orders convert to home closings. Because of this seasonality, home starts, construction costs and related cash outflows are historically highest from April to October, and the majority of cash receipts from home closings occur during the second half of the year. Therefore, operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	Use of Estimates
	Preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates primarily relate to valuation of certain real estate and reserves for self-insured risks. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Inventory
	We capitalize preacquisition, land, development and other allocated costs, including interest during development and home construction. Applicable costs incurred after development or construction is substantially complete are charged to selling, general and administrative, and other expenses as appropriate. Preacquisition costs, including non-refundable land deposits, are expensed to other income (expense), net when we determine continuation of the respective project is not probable.
	Land, development and other indirect costs are typically allocated to inventory using a methodology that approximates the relative-sales-value method. Home construction costs are recorded using the specific identification method. Cost of sales for homes closed includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred) based upon the total number of homes expected to close in each community. Changes to estimated total development costs subsequent to initial home closings in a community are generally allocated on a relative-sales-value method to remaining homes in the community.
	Inventory is stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is determined to be unrecoverable, in which case inventory is adjusted to fair value or fair value less cost to sell. Quarterly, we review our real estate assets at each community for indicators of impairment. Real estate assets include projects actively selling, under development, held for future development or held for sale. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in local housing market values and prices of comparable homes, significant decreases in gross margins and sales absorption rates, costs in excess of budget, and actual or projected cash flow losses.
	If there are indications of impairment, we analyze the budgets and cash flows of our real estate assets and compare the estimated remaining undiscounted future cash flows of the community to the asset’s carrying value. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value, the asset is deemed impaired and adjusted to fair value. For land held for sale, if the fair value less costs to sell exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. These impairment evaluations require use of estimates and assumptions regarding future conditions, including timing and amounts of development costs and sales prices of real estate assets, to determine if estimated future undiscounted cash flows will be sufficient to recover the asset’s carrying value.
	When estimating undiscounted cash flows of a community, various assumptions are made, including: (i) the number of homes available and the expected prices and incentives offered by us or other builders, and future price adjustments based on market and economic trends; (ii) expected sales pace and cancellation rates based on local housing market conditions, competition and historical trends; (iii) costs expended to date and expected to be incurred, including, but not limited to, land and land development, home construction, interest, indirect construction and overhead, and selling and marketing costs; (iv) alternative product offerings that could impact sales pace, sales price and/or building costs; and (v) alternative uses for the property.
	Many assumptions are interdependent and a change in one may require a corresponding change to other assumptions. For example, increasing or decreasing sales rates have a direct impact on the estimated price of a home, the level of time sensitive costs (such as indirect construction, overhead and interest), and selling and marketing costs (such as model maintenance and advertising). Depending on the underlying objective of the community, assumptions could have a significant impact on the projected cash flows. For example, if the objective is to preserve operating margins, the cash flows will be different than if the objective is to increase sales. These objectives may vary significantly by community.
	If assets are considered impaired, the impairment charge is the amount the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted for inherent risks associated with real estate assets or other valuation techniques. These discounted cash flows are impacted by expected risk based on estimated land development, construction and delivery timelines; market risk of price erosion; uncertainty of development or construction cost increases; and other risks specific to the asset or market conditions where the asset is located when the assessment is made. These factors are specific to each community and may vary. The discount rate used in determining each asset’s fair value depends on the community’s projected life and development stage.
	Completed Operations Claim Costs
	We maintain, and require our subcontractors to maintain, general liability insurance which includes coverage for completed operations losses and damages. Most subcontractors carry this insurance through our “rolling wrap-up” insurance program, where our risks and risks of participating subcontractors are insured through a common set of master policies.
	Completed operations claims reserves primarily represent claims for property damage to completed homes and projects outside of our one-to-two year warranty period. Specific terms and conditions of completed operations claims vary depending on the market where homes close and can range up to ten years from the close of a home.
	We record expenses and liabilities for estimated costs of potential completed operations claims based upon aggregated loss experience, which includes an estimate of completed operations claims incurred but not reported and is actuarially estimated using individual case-based valuations and statistical analysis. These estimates make up our entire reserve and are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in completed operations claims related to our markets and products built, claims reporting and settlement patterns, third party recoveries, insurance industry practices, insurance regulations and legal precedent. Because state regulations vary, completed operations claims are reported and resolved over an extended period, sometimes exceeding 10 years. As a result, actual costs may differ significantly from estimates.
	The actuarial analyses that determine these incurred but not reported claims consider various factors, including frequency and severity of losses, which are based on our historical claims experience supplemented by industry data. The actuarial analyses of these claims and reserves also consider historical third party recovery rates and claims management expenses. Due to inherent uncertainties related to each of these factors, periodic changes to such factors based on updated relevant information could result in actual costs differing significantly from estimates.
	In accordance with our completed operations insurance policies, completed operations claims costs are recoverable from our subcontractors or insurance carriers. Claims through July 31, 2009 are insured or reinsured by third-party insurance carriers, and claims commencing August 1, 2009 are insured by third-party and affiliate insurance carriers.
	Revenues
	In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, revenues from housing and other real estate sales are recognized when the respective units close. Housing and other real estate sales close when all conditions of escrow are met, including delivery of the home or other real estate asset, title passage, appropriate consideration is received or collection of associated receivables, if any, is reasonably assured and when we have no other continuing involvement in the asset. Sales incentives are a reduction of revenues when the respective unit closes.
	Income Taxes
	SHLP is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. As a limited partnership, SHLP is subject to certain minimal state taxes and fees; however, taxes on income realized by SHLP are generally the obligation of the Partners and their owners.
	SHI and PIC are C corporations. Federal and state income taxes are provided for these entities in accordance with ASC 740. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect the year in which differences are expected to reverse.
	Deferred tax assets are evaluated to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established based on our determination if it is more likely than not some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on generation of future taxable income during periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Assessment of a valuation allowance includes giving appropriate consideration to all positive and negative evidence related to realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses in recent years, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards before they expire, and tax planning alternatives. Judgment is required in determining future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	We follow certain accounting guidance on how uncertain tax positions should be accounted for and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements. The guidance requires assessment of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the tax returns and to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained upon examination by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not criteria would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. We are required to assess open tax years, as defined by the statute of limitations, for all major jurisdictions, including federal and certain states. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities. We have examinations in progress but believe no uncertain tax positions exist that do not meet the more-likely-than-not criteria (see Note 13).
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”), which is intended to change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance disclosures. Under this new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. If the disposal does qualify as a discontinued operation, the entity will be required to provide expanded disclosures, as well as disclosure of the pretax income attributable to the disposal of a significant part of an entity that does not qualify as a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 will be effective beginning January 1, 2015 and subsequent interim periods. The adoption of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides a single comprehensive model in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 will require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update creates a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) including (i) identifying the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-09 will be effective beginning January 1, 2017 and subsequent interim periods. We have the option to apply the provisions of ASU 2014-09 either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of applying this ASU recognized at the date of initial application. Early adoption is not permitted. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires the Company to perform interim and annual assessments on whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the our ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and to provide related disclosures, if required. ASU 2014-15 will be effective beginning January 1, 2016 and subsequent interim periods. The adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Restricted_Cash

Restricted Cash	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Restricted Cash	'
	3. Restricted Cash
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, restricted cash included cash customer deposits temporarily restricted in accordance with regulatory requirements and cash used in lieu of bonds. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, restricted cash was $0.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Fair_Value_Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures	'
	4. Fair Value Disclosures
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, as required by ASC 825, net book value and estimated fair value of notes payable were as follows:
		September 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Net Book		Estimated		Net Book		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
		(In thousands)
	$750,000 senior secured notes	$	750,000	$	795,000	$	750,000	$	830,625
	Secured promissory notes	$	11,740	$	11,740	$	1,708	$	1,708
	The $750.0 million 8.625% senior secured notes due May 2019 (the “Secured Notes”) are level 2 financial instruments in which fair value was based on quoted market prices in an inactive market at the end of the period.
	Other financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts and other receivables, accounts payable and other liabilities and secured promissory notes. Book values of these financial instruments approximate fair value due to their relatively short-term nature. In addition, included in other assets are available-for-sale marketable securities, which are recorded at fair value.

Accounts_and_Other_Receivables

Accounts and Other Receivables, net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounts and Other Receivables, net	'
	5. Accounts and Other Receivables, net
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts and other receivables, net were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Insurance receivables	$	131,793		$	138,610
	Escrow receivables		2,715			586
	Notes receivables		4,109			3,155
	Development receivables		1,317			3,093
	Other receivables		8,012			4,031
	Reserve		(1,989	)		(1,976	)
	Total accounts and other receivables, net	$	145,957		$	147,499
	Insurance receivables are from insurance carriers for reimbursable claims pertaining to resultant damage from construction defects on closed homes (see Note 11). Closed homes for policy years August 1, 2001 to present are insured or reinsured by third-party and affiliate insurance carriers. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, insurance receivables from affiliate insurance carriers were $50.9 million and $44.0 million, respectively.
	We reserve for uncollectible receivables that are specifically identified.

Inventory

Inventory	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory	'
	6. Inventory
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, inventory was as follows:
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Model homes		$	111,996		$	87,728
	Completed homes for sale			41,393			20,285
	Homes under construction			373,147			257,662
	Lots available for construction			336,712			342,622
	Land under development			110,112			122,257
	Land held for future development			99,883			70,618
	Land held for sale, including water system connection rights of $11.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013			76,630			79,102
	Land deposits and preacquisition costs			28,235			32,998
	Total inventory		$	1,178,108		$	1,013,272
	Model homes, completed homes for sale and homes under construction include all costs associated with home construction, including land, development, indirects, permits, and vertical construction. Lots available for construction include costs incurred prior to home construction such as land, development, indirects and permits. Land under development includes costs incurred during site development such as land, development, indirects and permits. Land under development transfers to lots available for construction once site development is complete and is ready for vertical construction. Land is classified as held for future development if significant development has not occurred. Land held for sale represents residential and commercial land designated for sale, including water system connection rights that will be transferred to homebuyers upon closing of their home, transferred upon sale of land to the respective buyer, sold or leased.
	Impairment
	Inventory, including the captions above, are stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is unrecoverable, in which case, inventories are adjusted to fair value or fair value less costs to sell (see Note 2).
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no inventory impairment charges.
	Interest Capitalization
	Interest is capitalized to inventory and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures during development and other qualifying activities. Interest capitalized as a cost of inventory is included in cost of sales when related units close. Interest capitalized to investments in unconsolidated joint ventures is included in equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures when related units in the joint ventures close.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, interest incurred, expensed and capitalized was as follows:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Interest incurred		$	17,112		$	16,780		$	51,092		$	50,322
	Interest expensed (a)		$	160		$	145		$	436		$	4,975
	Interest capitalized as a cost of inventory		$	16,068		$	15,925		$	48,091		$	43,874
	Interest previously capitalized as a cost of inventory, included in cost of sales		$	(17,228	)	$	(15,110	)	$	(45,136	)	$	(40,014	)
	Interest capitalized in ending inventory (b)		$	105,055		$	106,709		$	105,055		$	106,709
	Interest capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures		$	884		$	710		$	2,565		$	1,473
	Interest previously capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, included in equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		$	(106	)	$	(244	)	$	(497	)	$	(829	)
	Interest capitalized in ending investments in unconsolidated joint ventures		$	3,157		$	644		$	3,157		$	644
	(a)	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, qualifying assets exceeded debt, therefore no interest on the Secured Notes (see Note 10) was expensed; interest expense represents fees charged on the unused revolving credit facility that is not considered a cost of borrowing and is not capitalized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, assets qualifying for interest capitalization were less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.
	(b)	In prior years, inventory impairment charges were recorded against total inventory of the respective community. Accordingly, capitalized interest reflects the gross amount of capitalized interest as impairment charges recognized were generally not allocated to specific components of inventory.

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures

Investments in Joint Ventures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Investments in Joint Ventures	'
	7. Investments in Joint Ventures
	Unconsolidated joint ventures, which we do not control but have significant influence through ownership interests generally up to 50%, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. These joint ventures are generally involved in real property development and house construction and sales. Earnings and losses are allocated in accordance with terms of joint venture agreements.
	Losses and distributions from joint ventures in excess of the carrying amount of our investment (“Deficit Distributions”) are included in other liabilities. We record Deficit Distributions since we are liable for this deficit to respective joint ventures. Deficit Distributions are offset by future earnings of, or future contributions to, the joint ventures. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Deficit Distributions were $3.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no impairment charges on investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, total unconsolidated joint ventures’ notes payable were as follows:
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(In thousands)
	Bank and seller notes payable:
	Guaranteed (subject to remargin obligations)		$	61,251	$	52,515
	Non-guaranteed			15,941		10,073
	Total bank and seller notes payable (a)			77,192		62,588
	Partner notes payable (b):
	Unsecured			36,070		16,001
	Total unconsolidated joint venture notes payable		$	113,262	$	78,589
	Other unconsolidated joint venture notes payable (c)		$	32,225	$	55,441
	(a)	All bank seller notes were secured by real property.
	(b)	No guarantees were provided on partner notes payable. In January 2014, a $3.2 million partner note from one joint venture was paid in full.
	(c)	Through indirect effective ownership in two joint ventures of 12.3% and .0003%, respectively, that had bank notes payable secured by real property in which we have not provided a guaranty.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, remargin obligations and guarantees provided on debt of our unconsolidated joint ventures were on a joint and/or several basis and include, but are not limited to, project completion, interest and carry, and loan-to-value maintenance guarantees.
	For a joint venture, RRWS, LLC (“RRWS”), we have a remargin obligation that is limited to the lesser of 50% of the outstanding balance in total for all joint venture loans or $35.0 million, which outstanding loan balances at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $47.0 million and $47.7 million, respectively. Consequently, our maximum remargin obligation at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $23.5 million and $23.8 million, respectively. We also have an agreement where we could potentially recover a portion of payments made by the Company. However, we cannot provide assurance we could collect under this agreement.
	For a second joint venture, Polo Estates Ventures, LLC (“Polo”), we have a joint and several remargin guarantee on loan obligations which, in total, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were $14.3 million and $4.8 million, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, total maximum borrowings permitted on these loans were $21.6 million and $21.6 million, respectively. We also have reimbursement rights where we could potentially recover a portion of payments made by the Company. However, we cannot provide assurance we could collect such payments.
	No liabilities were recorded for these guarantees at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 as the fair value of the secured real estate assets exceeded the threshold at which a remargin payment is required.
	Our ability to make joint venture and other restricted payments and investments is governed by the indenture governing the Secured Notes (the “Indenture”, see Note 10). We are permitted to make restricted payments under (i) a $70.0 million revolving basket available solely for joint venture investments and (ii) a broader restricted payment basket available if our Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) is at least 2.0 to 1.0. The aggregate amount of restricted payments made under this broader restricted payment basket cannot exceed 50% of our cumulative Consolidated Net Income (as defined in the Indenture) generated from and including October 1, 2013, plus the aggregate net cash proceeds of, and the fair market value of, any property or other asset received by the Company as a capital contribution or upon the issuance of indebtedness or certain securities by the Company from and including October 1, 2013, plus, to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, certain amounts received in connection with dispositions, distributions or repayments of restricted investments, plus the value of any unrestricted subsidiary which is redesignated as a restricted subsidiary under the Indenture. We have joint ventures which have used, and are expected to use, capacity under these restricted payment baskets. In 2013, we entered into a joint venture in Southern California and committed to contribute up to $45.0 million of capital. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we made aggregate capital contributions of $20.8 million and $15.1 million, respectively, to this joint venture.

Variable_Interest_Entities

Variable Interest Entities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Variable Interest Entities	'
	8. Variable Interest Entities
	ASC 810 requires a VIE to be consolidated in the financial statements of a company if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Accordingly, the primary beneficiary has the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb its losses or the right to receive its benefits. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, all VIEs were evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary.
	Joint Ventures
	We enter into joint ventures for homebuilding and land development activities. Investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending on contractual terms of the venture. We analyze our joint ventures in accordance with ASC 810 to determine whether they are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, these joint ventures were not consolidated in our consolidated financial statements since they were not VIEs, or if they were VIEs, we were not the primary beneficiary.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had a variable interest in an unconsolidated joint venture determined to be a VIE. The joint venture, RRWS, was formed in December 2012 and is owned 50% by the Company and 50% by a third-party real estate developer (the “RRWS Partner”). Several acquisition, development and construction loans were entered into by RRWS, each with two-year terms and options to extend for one year, subject to certain conditions. Each loan is cross collateralized and cross defaulted with the other loan. The Company and RRWS Partner each executed limited completion, interest and carry guarantees and environmental indemnities on a joint and several basis. In addition, the Company and RRWS Partner executed loan-to-value maintenance agreements for each loan on a joint and several basis. We have a maximum aggregate liability under the re-margin arrangements of the lesser of 50% of the outstanding balances in total or $35.0 million. Obligations of the Company and RRWS Partner under the re-margin arrangements are limited during the first two years of the loans. In addition to re-margin arrangements, the RRWS Partner and several of its principals executed repayment guarantees with no limit on their liability. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, outstanding bank notes payable were $47.0 million and $47.7 million, respectively, of which we have a maximum remargin obligation of $23.5 million and $23.8 million, respectively. We also have an agreement from the RRWS Partner, under which we could potentially recover a portion of payments made by the Company. However, we cannot provide assurance we could collect under this agreement.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had a variable interest in a second unconsolidated joint venture determined to be a VIE. The joint venture, Polo, was formed in November 2012 and is owned 50% by the Company and 50% by a third-party investor (“Polo Partner”). Polo entered into acquisition, development and construction loans in July 2013 with two-year terms and options to extend for one year, subject to certain conditions. Each loan is cross collateralized and cross defaulted with the other loan. The Company and Polo Partner each executed loan-to-value maintenance arrangements for each loan on a joint and several basis. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, outstanding bank notes payable were $14.3 million and $4.8 million, respectively, and total maximum borrowings permitted on these loans were $21.6 million and $21.6 million, respectively. We also have reimbursement rights where we could potentially recover a portion of payments made by the Company. However, have cannot provide assurance we could collect such payments.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had a variable interest in a third unconsolidated joint venture determined to be a VIE. The joint venture, Vistancia West Holdings LP (“Vistancia West”), was formed in August 2013 and is owned 10% by the Company and 90% by a third-party investor (“Vistancia West Partner”). A subsidiary of Vistancia West entered into a $27.5 million revolving credit facility in September 2014 with a three-year term, renewable annually subject to certain conditions. The revolving credit facility is secured by the underlying property and is non-recourse to the Company and the Vistancia West Partner. At September 30, 2014, there were no outstanding borrowings.
	In accordance with ASC 810, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of RRWS, Polo and Vistancia West because we did not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these entities, such as determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the respective entity, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the respective entity, and arranging financing for the respective entity.
	Land Option Contracts
	We enter into land option contracts to procure land for home construction. Use of land option and similar contracts allows us to reduce market risks associated with direct land ownership and development, reduces capital and financial commitments, including interest and other carrying costs, and minimizes land inventory. Under these contracts, we pay a specified deposit for the right to purchase land, usually at a predetermined price. Under the requirements of ASC 810, certain contracts may create a variable interest with the land seller.
	In accordance with ASC 810, we analyzed our land option and similar contracts to determine if respective land sellers are VIEs and, if so, if we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires us to consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of such VIEs because we did not have the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, such as selling, transferring or developing land owned by the VIE.
	At September 30, 2014, we had $1.7 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts with unconsolidated VIEs, having a $26.9 million remaining purchase price. We also had $23.2 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts that were not with VIEs, having a $411.2 million remaining purchase price.
	Our loss exposure on land option contracts consists of non-refundable deposits, which were $20.3 million and $6.9 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and capitalized preacquisition costs of $3.4 million and $12.0 million, respectively, which were included in inventory in the consolidated balance sheets.

Other_Assets_Net

Other Assets, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Other Assets, Net	'
	9. Other Assets, Net
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, other assets were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Income tax receivable	$	1,174	$	2,199
	Deferred tax asset (see Note 13)		14,609		16,337
	Investments		9,853		9,439
	Property and equipment, net		4,352		4,103
	Capitalized loan origination fees		10,413		11,089
	Prepaid bank fees		117		152
	Deposits in lieu of bonds and letters of credit		11,028		10,294
	Prepaid insurance		5,456		2,460
	Other		1,214		997
	Total other assets, net	$	58,216	$	57,070
	Investments
	Investments consist of available-for-sale securities, primarily private debt obligations, and are measured at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices or cash flow models. Accordingly, unrealized gains and temporary losses on investments, net of tax, are reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, there were nominal realized gains on available-for-sale securities.
	Capitalized Loan Origination Fees
	In accordance with ASC 470, loan origination fees are capitalized and amortized as interest over the term of the related debt.
	Deposits in Lieu of Bonds and Letters of Credit
	We make cash deposits in lieu of bonds with various agencies for some homebuilding projects. These deposits may be returned as the collateral requirements decrease or replaced with new bonds.

Notes_Payable

Notes Payable	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Notes Payable	'
	10. Notes Payable
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, notes payable were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	$750.0 million 8.625% senior secured notes (the “Secured Notes”), due May 2019	$	750,000	$	750,000
	$125.0 million secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), interest currently at the eurocurrency rate plus 2.75%, matures March 1, 2016		0		0
	Promissory notes, interest ranging from 1% to 6%, maturing through 2016, secured by deeds of trust on inventory		11,740		1,708
	Total notes payable	$	761,740	$	751,708
	On May 10, 2011, our Secured Notes were issued at $750.0 million, bear interest at 8.625% paid semi-annually on May 15 and November 15, and do not require principal payments until maturity on May 15, 2019. The Secured Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option beginning on May 15, 2015 at a price of 104.313 per bond, reducing to 102.156 on May 15, 2016 and are redeemable at par beginning on May 15, 2017. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accrued interest was $24.3 million and $8.1 million, respectively.
	The Indenture contains covenants that limit, among other things, our ability to incur additional indebtedness (including the issuance of certain preferred stock), pay dividends and distributions on our equity interests, repurchase our equity interests, retire unsecured or subordinated notes more than one year prior to their maturity, make investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures that are not restricted subsidiaries that guarantee the Secured Notes, sell certain assets, incur liens, merge with or into other companies, expand unto unrelated businesses, and enter in certain transaction with our affiliates. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with these covenants.
	In February 2014, we replaced our $75.0 million letter of credit facility with the Revolver, which bears interest, at the Company’s option, either at (i) a daily eurocurrency base rate as defined in the credit agreement governing the Revolver (the “Credit Agreement”), plus a margin of 2.75%, or (ii) a eurocurrency rate as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus a margin of 2.75%, and matures March 1, 2016. Borrowing availability is determined by a borrowing base formula and we are subject to financial covenants, including minimum net worth and leverage and interest coverage ratios. If we do not maintain compliance with these financial covenants, the Revolver converts to an 18-month amortizing term loan. At September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants and no amounts were outstanding.

Other_Liabilities

Other Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Other Liabilities	'
	11. Other Liabilities
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, other liabilities were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Completed operations	$	131,793		$	138,610
	Warranty reserves		21,092			20,648
	Accrued profit and revenue participation arrangements (see Note 12)		22,878			678
	Deferred revenue/gain		23,471			29,358
	Provisions for closed homes/communities		6,818			10,591
	Deposits (primarily homebuyer)		19,446			14,281
	Legal reserves		6,265			4,576
	Accrued interest		24,299			8,086
	Accrued compensation and benefits		18,964			9,389
	Distributions payable		2,260			2,531
	Deficit Distributions (see Note 7)		3,486			351
	Other		7,309			6,702
	Total other liabilities	$	288,081		$	245,801
	Completed Operations
	Reserves for completed operations primarily represent claims for property damage to completed homes and projects outside our one-to-two year warranty period. Specific terms and conditions of completed operations claims vary depending on the market where homes close and can range to ten years from the close of a home. Expenses and liabilities are recorded for potential completed operations claims based upon aggregated loss experience, which includes an estimate of completed operations claims incurred but not reported, and is actuarially estimated using individual case-based valuations and statistical analysis. For policy years from August 1, 2001 through the present, completed operations claims are insured or reinsured by third-party and affiliate insurance carriers.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, changes in completed operations reserves were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	137,418		$	131,248		$	138,610		$	131,519
	Reserves provided		3,308			1,718			9,012			4,786
	Claims paid		(8,933	)		(5,948	)		(15,829	)		(9,287	)
	Balance, end of the period	$	131,793		$	127,018		$	131,793		$	127,018
	Reserves provided for completed operations are generally fully offset by changes in insurance receivables (see Note 5); however, premiums paid for completed operations insurance policies are included in cost of sales. For actual completed operations claims and estimates of completed operations claims incurred but not reported, we estimate and record corresponding insurance receivables under applicable policies when recovery is probable. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, insurance receivables were $131.8 million and $138.6 million, respectively.
	Expenses, liabilities and receivables related to these claims are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in completed operations claims related to our markets and products built, claims reporting and settlement patterns, insurance industry practices, insurance regulations and legal precedent. Although considerable variability is inherent in such estimates, we believe reserves for completed operations claims are adequate.
	Warranty Reserve
	We offer a limited one or two year fit and finish warranty for our homes. Specific terms and conditions of these warranties vary in the markets in which the homes close. We estimate warranty costs to be incurred and record a liability and a charge to cost of sales when home revenue is recognized. We also include in our warranty reserve the uncovered losses related to completed operations coverage, which approximates 12.5% of the total property damage estimate. Factors affecting warranty liability include number of homes closed, historical and anticipated warranty claims, and cost per claim history and trends. We periodically assess adequacy of our warranty liabilities and adjust amounts as necessary.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, changes in warranty liability were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	20,838		$	18,521		$	20,648		$	17,749
	Provision for warranties		3,100			2,804			9,042			7,190
	Warranty costs paid		(2,846	)		(2,264	)		(8,598	)		(5,878	)
	Balance, end of the period	$	21,092		$	19,061		$	21,092		$	19,061
	Deferred Revenue/Gain
	Deferred revenue/gain represents deferred revenues or gain on transactions in which an insufficient down payment was received or a future performance, passage of time or event is required. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, deferred revenue/gain primarily represents the PIC Transaction described below.
	Completed operations claims were insured through PIC for policy years August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2007. In December 2009, PIC entered into a series of novation and reinsurance transactions (the “PIC Transaction”).
	First, PIC entered into a novation agreement with JFSCI to novate its deductible reimbursement obligations related to its workers’ compensation and general liability risks at September 30, 2009 for policy years August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2007, and its completed operations risks from August 1, 2005 to July 31, 2007. Concurrently, JFSCI entered into insurance arrangements with unrelated third party insurance carriers to insure these policies. As a result of this novation, a $19.2 million gain was deferred and will be recognized as income when related claims are paid. In addition, the deferred gain may increase or decrease based on changes in actuarial estimates. Changes to the deferred gain are recognized as current period income or expense. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unamortized deferred gain was $16.2 million and $18.9 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized $2.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recognized $0.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of this deferral as income, which was included in gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction, and includes both the impact of income recognized from claims paid as well as income or expense from increases or decreases to the deferred gain from changes in actuarial adjustments.
	Second, PIC entered into reinsurance agreements with various unrelated reinsurers that reinsured 100% of its expected completed operations risks from August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2005. As a result of the reinsurance, a $15.6 million gain was deferred and will be recognized as income when the related claims are paid. In addition, the deferred gain may increase or decrease based on changes in actuarial estimates. Changes to the deferred gain are recognized as current period income or expense. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unamortized deferred gain was $4.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized $1.9 million and $3.5 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recognized $1.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of this deferral as income, which was included in gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction, and includes both the impact of income recognized from claims paid as well as income or expense from increases or decreases to the deferred gain from changes in actuarial adjustments.
	As a result of the PIC Transaction, if the estimated ultimate loss to be paid under these policies exceeds the policy limits under the novation and reinsurance transactions, the shortfall is expected to be funded by JFSCI for the policies novated to JFSCI and by PIC for the policies it reinsured.
	Distributions Payable
	In December 2011, our consolidated joint venture, Vistancia, LLC, sold its remaining interest in an unconsolidated joint venture (the “Vistancia Sale”). As a result of the Vistancia Sale, no other assets of Vistancia, LLC economically benefit the former non-controlling member of Vistancia, LLC and the Company recorded the remaining $3.3 million distribution payable to this member, which is paid $0.1 million quarterly. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the remaining distribution payable was $2.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions	'
	12. Related Party Transactions
	Related Party Receivables and Payables
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, receivables from related parties, net were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Note receivable from JFSCI	$	11,628		$	21,588
	Notes receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures		5,036			1,037
	Notes receivable from related parties		15,624			18,822
	Reserves for note receivables from related parties		(12,898	)		(12,842	)
	Receivables from related parties		3,762			3,745
	Total receivables from related parties, net	$	23,152		$	32,350
	In May 2011, concurrent with issuance of the Secured Notes, the previous unsecured receivable from JFSCI was partially paid down and the balance converted to a $38.9 million unsecured term note receivable, bearing 4% interest, payable in equal quarterly installments and maturing May 15, 2019. In 2014 and 2013, JFSCI elected to make prepayments, including accrued interest, of $14.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively, and applied these prepayments to future installments such that JFSCI would not be required to make a payment until November 2017. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the note receivable from JFSCI, including accrued interest, was $11.6 million and $21.6 million, respectively. Quarterly, we evaluate collectability of the note receivable from JFSCI, which includes consideration of JFSCI’s payment history, operating performance and future payment requirements under the note. Based on these criteria, and as JFSCI applied prepayments under the note to defer future installments until November 2017, we do not anticipate collection risks on this note receivable.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, notes receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures, including accrued interest, were $5.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively. These notes receivable bear interest ranging from 8% to 12% and mature through 2020. Further, a note bearing 8% interest can earn additional interest to achieve a 17.5% internal rate of return, subject to available cash flows of the joint venture, and can be repaid prior to 2020. Quarterly, we evaluate collectability of these notes receivable, which includes consideration of prior payment history, operating performance and future payment requirements under the applicable note receivable. Based on these criteria, we do not anticipate collection risks on these notes receivable.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, notes receivable from other related parties, including accrued interest, were $2.7 million and $6.0 million, respectively, net of related reserves of $12.9 million and $12.8 million, respectively. These notes are unsecured and mature from August 2016 through March 2019. At September 30, 2014, these notes bore interest ranging from Prime less .75% (2.5%) to 4.20%, and at December 31, 2013, from Prime less .75% (2.5%) to 4.25%. Quarterly, we evaluate collectability of these notes which includes consideration of prior payment history, operating performance and future payment requirements under the applicable notes. Based on these criteria, two notes receivable were deemed uncollectible and fully reserved. We do not anticipate collection risks on the other notes receivable.
	The Company, entities under common control and certain unconsolidated joint ventures also engage in transactions on behalf of the other, such as payment of invoices and payroll. Amounts resulting from these transactions are recorded in receivables from related parties or payables to related parties, are non-interest bearing, due on demand and generally paid monthly. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, these receivables were $3.8 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and these payables were $7.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
	Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions
	In January 2014, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement and acquired undeveloped land in Northern California. Consideration included $4.4 million of cash, assumption of a $1.3 million net liability, and future revenue participation payments (the “RAPA”). The RAPA is calculated at 11% of gross revenues from home closings, payable quarterly and limited to $19.6 million. The RAPA liability, based on a third-party real estate appraisal, is estimated to be $19.6 million, which is included in other liabilities (see Note 11). As the transaction is with a related party under common control, the $25.3 million of consideration was recorded as an equity distribution.
	In February 2014, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell land in Southern California to a related party under common control for $1.0 million cash and assumption of certain construction obligations. The $0.9 million of net sales proceeds received in excess of the net book value of the land sold was recorded as an equity contribution.
	In June 2014, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement (“PSA”) to purchase land in Northern California from an unconsolidated joint venture in which we hold a 33% ownership interest. We paid $2.7 million for 70 lots and acquired an option to purchase 262 lots in seven phases through 2019, estimated in total at $18.5 million. The PSA also includes additional consideration based on future price and profit appreciation for each phase, payable after the last home closing for that respective phase. In conjunction with the purchase of the 70 lots, we deferred $0.9 million of profit representing our proportionate share of the corresponding land sale profit from the joint venture and recorded it as a reduction of inventory.
	At September 30, 2014 and 2013, we were the managing member for 11 and 10, respectively, unconsolidated joint ventures and received management fees from these joint ventures as reimbursement for direct and overhead costs incurred on behalf of the joint ventures. Fees representing cost reimbursement are recorded as an offset to general and administrative expenses; fees in excess of costs are recorded as revenues. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, $2.7 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of management fees were offset to general and administrative expenses, and $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of management fees were recorded as revenues. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, $2.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of management fees were offset to general and administrative expenses, and $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of management fees were recorded as revenues.
	Other Related Party Transactions
	JFSCI provides corporate services, including management, legal, tax, information technology, risk management, facilities, accounting, treasury and human resources. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, general and administrative expenses included $7.0 million and $19.8 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, general and administrative expenses included $6.9 million and $17.9 million, respectively, for these corporate services.
	We lease office space from related parties under non-cancelable operating leases with terms up to ten years that generally provide renewal options for terms up to an additional five years. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, related party rental expense was $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, related party rental expense was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
	We obtain workers compensation insurance, commercial general liability insurance and insurance for completed operations losses and damages with respect to our homebuilding operations from affiliate and unrelated third party insurance providers. Some of these policies are purchased by affiliate entities and we pay premiums to these affiliates for the coverage provided by these third party and affiliate insurance providers. Policies covering these risks from unrelated third party insurance providers are written at various coverage levels but include a large self-insured retention or deductible. We have retention liability insurance from affiliated entities to insure these large retentions or deductibles. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, amounts paid to affiliates for this retention insurance coverage were $5.5 million and $15.8 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, amounts paid to affiliates for this retention insurance coverage were $5.1 million and $12.9 million, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Taxes	'
	13. Income Taxes
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, income tax expense was $16.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the net deferred tax asset was $14.6 million and $16.3 million, respectively, which primarily related to available loss carryforwards, inventory and investment impairments, and housing and land inventory basis differences. The $0.5 million deferred tax asset valuation allowance related to capital losses that expire in 2016 and 2017, and the impairment of debt securities that mature in 2021 and 2022. We continue to monitor industry and economic conditions, and our ability to generate taxable income to determine the recoverability of the net deferred tax assets.
	In 2009, we filed a petition with the United States Tax Court (the “Tax Court”) regarding our position on the completed contract method (“CCM”) of accounting for our homebuilding operations. During 2010 and 2011, we engaged in formal and informal discovery with the IRS and the Tax Court heard trial testimony in July 2012 and ordered the Company and the IRS to exchange briefs, which were filed. On February 12, 2014, the Tax Court ruled in favor of the Company, issuing a formal decision to this effect on April 21, 2014 (the “Tax Court Decision”). Pursuant to the ruling, the Company is permitted to continue to report income and loss from the sale of homes in its planned developments using CCM. As a result, no additional tax, interest or penalties are currently due and owing by the Company or the Partners. On July 15, 2014, the IRS filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (the “Court of Appeals”). The matter will be briefed by the parties and submitted to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals will schedule a hearing after briefing is completed.
	Notwithstanding the appeal by the IRS, we believe our position will more likely than not prevail and accordingly, have not recorded a liability for related taxes or interest for SHI. Furthermore, as a limited partnership, income taxes, interest or penalties imposed on SHLP are the Partners’ responsibility and are not reflected in the tax provision in these consolidated financial statements. However, if the Tax Court Decision is overturned in whole or in part, which is reasonably possible, SHI could be obligated to pay the IRS and applicable state taxing authorities up to $68 million and, under the Tax Distribution Agreement, SHLP could be obligated to make a distribution to the Partners up to $111 million to fund their related payments to the IRS and applicable state taxing authorities. However, the Indenture provides the amount we may pay on behalf of SHI and distribute to the Partners of SHLP for the matter may not exceed $70.0 million. Any potential shortfall would be absorbed by the SHLP Partners.

Owners_Equity

Owners' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Owners' Equity	'
	14. Owners’ Equity
	Owners’ equity consists of partners’ preferred and common capital. Common capital is comprised of limited partners with a collective 78.38% ownership and a general partner with a 20.62% ownership. Preferred capital is comprised of limited partners with either series B (“Series B”) or series D (“Series D”) classification. Series B holders have no ownership interest but earn a preferred return at 1.2% through December 31, 2016, 2.25% from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020, and Prime less 2.05% from January 1, 2021 and thereafter on unreturned capital balances. Series D holders have a 1% ownership interest and earn a preferred return at 2.0% through December 31, 2016, 12.75% from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020, and 7.0% from January 1, 2021 and thereafter on unreturned capital balances. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accumulated undistributed preferred returns for Series B holders were $24.1 million and $22.7 million, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accumulated undistributed preferred returns for Series D holders were $59.4 million and $56.6 million, respectively.
	Net income is allocated to Partners in a priority order that considers previously allocated net losses and preferred return considerations and, thereafter, in proportion to their respective ownership interests. Net loss is allocated in a priority order to Partners generally in proportion to their ownership interests and adjusted capital account balances, and, thereafter, to the general partner.
	The general partner, in its sole discretion, may make additional capital contributions or accept additional capital contributions from the limited partners. Cash distributions are made to Partners in proportion to their unpaid preferred returns, unreturned capital and, thereafter, in proportion to their ownership interests. Distributions to Partners are made at the discretion of the general partner, including payment of personal income taxes related to the Company. In addition, distributions to Partners from other entities under control of Shea family members, such as JFSCI, can be used for payment of personal incomes taxes related to the Company and other uses.

Contingencies_and_Commitments

Contingencies and Commitments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Contingencies and Commitments	'
	15. Contingencies and Commitments
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, certain unrecorded contingent liabilities and commitments were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Tax Court CCM case (capped at $70.0 million, see Note 13)	$	70,000	$	70,000
	Remargin obligations and guarantees for unconsolidated joint ventures (see Note 7)		37,756		28,684
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for Company projects		78,367		77,276
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for joint venture projects		22,744		22,845
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for related party projects		1,611		1,614
	Water system connection rights purchase obligation		30,506		30,506
	Total unrecorded contingent liabilities and commitments	$	240,984	$	230,925
	Legal Claims
	Lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been and will likely be instituted or asserted against us in the normal course of business, including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. We are also subject to local, state and federal laws and regulations related to land development activities, house construction standards, sales practices, employment practices and environmental protection. As a result, we are subject to periodic examinations or inquiry by agencies administering these laws and regulations.
	We record a reserve for potential legal claims and regulatory matters when the specific facts and circumstances indicate that they are probable of occurring and a potential loss is reasonably estimable, and we revise these estimates when necessary. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had reserves of $6.3 million and $4.6 million, respectively, net of expected recoveries, relating to these claims and matters, and while their outcome cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe we have appropriately reserved for them. However, if the liability arising from their resolution exceeds their recorded reserves, we could incur additional charges that could be significant.
	Due to the inherent difficulty of predicting outcomes of legal claims and related contingencies, we generally cannot determine their ultimate resolution, related timing or eventual loss. If our evaluations indicate loss contingencies that could be material are not probable, but are reasonably possible, we will disclose their nature with an estimate of possible range of losses or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable. Other than the Tax Court Decision discussed in Note 13, at September 30, 2014, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued was not material.
	SHI was named as a defendant in an action entitled Aamodt v. Shea Homes, Inc., Case No. 14-cv-01566, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The case was originally filed on or around October 10, 2014. The plaintiffs in the matter purport to bring a claim under the Consumer Protection Act arising out of alleged construction defects involving approximately 589 homes. We intend to vigorously defend against these claims. At this time, we are unable to determine what, if any, the liability exposure may be, or what the ultimate portion of any legal exposure may be covered by insurance. While we do not believe this matter to be material, due to the inherent unpredictability of litigation, there can be no assurance that the ultimate outcome will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
	Letters of Credit, Surety Bonds and Project Obligations
	On May 10, 2011, we entered into a $75.0 million letter of credit facility. At December 31, 2013, there were no letters of credit outstanding under this facility. In February 2014, this facility was replaced with the Revolver (see Note 10), which includes a $62.5 million sublimit for letters of credit. At September 30, 2014, there were no outstanding letters of credit under the Revolver.
	We provide surety bonds that guarantee completion of certain infrastructure serving our homebuilding projects. At September 30, 2014, there was $78.4 million of costs to complete in connection with $170.6 million of surety bonds issued. At December 31, 2013, there was $77.3 million of costs to complete in connection with $169.7 million of surety bonds issued.
	We also provide indemnification for bonds issued by certain unconsolidated joint ventures and other related party projects in which we have no ownership interest. At September 30, 2014, there was $22.7 million of costs to complete in connection with $63.2 million of surety bonds issued for unconsolidated joint venture projects, and $1.6 million of costs to complete in connection with $4.9 million of surety bonds issued for related party projects. At December 31, 2013, there was $22.8 million of costs to complete in connection with $63.7 million of surety bonds issued for unconsolidated joint venture projects, and $1.6 million of costs to complete in connection with $4.9 million of surety bonds issued for related party projects.
	Certain of our homebuilding projects utilize community facility district, metro-district and other local government bond financing programs to fund acquisition or construction of infrastructure improvements. Interest and principal on these bonds are typically paid from taxes and assessments levied on landowners and/or homeowners following the closing of new homes in the project. Occasionally, we enter into credit support arrangements requiring us to pay interest and principal on these bonds if taxes and assessments levied on landowners and/or homeowners are insufficient to cover such obligations. Furthermore, reimbursement of these payments to us is dependent on the district or local government’s ability to generate sufficient tax and assessment revenues from the new homes. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, in connection with credit support arrangements, there was $9.6 million and $8.6 million, respectively, reimbursable to us from certain agencies in Colorado and, accordingly, were recorded in inventory as a recoverable project cost.
	We also pay certain fees and costs associated with the construction of infrastructure improvements in homebuilding projects that utilize these district bond financing programs. These fees and costs are typically reimbursable to us from, and therefore dependent on, bond proceeds or taxes and assessments levied on landowners and/or homeowners. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, in connection with certain funding arrangements, there was $13.5 million and $13.1 million, respectively, reimbursable to us from certain agencies, including $12.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively, from metro-districts in Colorado and, accordingly, were recorded in inventory as a recoverable project cost.
	Until bond proceeds or tax and assessment revenues are sufficient to cover our obligations and/or reimburse us, our responsibility to make interest and principal payments on these bonds or pay fees and costs associated with the construction of infrastructure improvements could be prolonged and significant. In addition, if the bond proceeds or tax and assessment revenues are not sufficient to cover our obligations and/or reimburse us, these amounts might not be recoverable.
	As a condition of the Vistancia Sale, and the purchase of the non-controlling member’s remaining interest in Vistancia, LLC, we effectively remain a 10% guarantor on certain community facility district bond obligations to which we must meet a minimum calculated tangible net worth; otherwise, we are required to fund collateral to the bond issuer. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we exceeded the minimum tangible net worth requirement.
	At a consolidated homebuilding project in Colorado, we have a contractual obligation to purchase and receive water system connection rights which, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, had a contractual purchase price of $30.5 million, which is less than the estimated market value. These water system connection rights are held, then transferred to homebuyers upon closing of their home, transferred upon sale of land to the respective buyer, sold or leased.

Supplemental_Disclosure_to_Con

Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	'
	16. Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	Supplemental disclosures to the consolidated statements of cash flows were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
	Income taxes paid	$	13,271		$	66
	Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	$	436		$	3,235
	Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net	$	334		$	252
	Reclassification of Deficit Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures to other liabilities	$	(3,134	)	$	(339	)
	Purchase of land in exchange for note payable	$	12,371		$	2,964
	Deferred gain on inventory purchased from unconsolidated joint venture	$	901		$	0
	Distribution to Owners for assumption of liability and revenue participation payments for land purchased from a related party under common control	$	(20,891	)	$	0
	Contribution of inventory to unconsolidated joint venture	$	8,981		$	4,082

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Information	'
	17. Segment Information
	Our homebuilding business, which is responsible for most of our operating results, constructs and sells single-family attached and detached homes designed to appeal to first-time, move-up and active lifestyle homebuyers. Our homebuilding business also provides management services to joint ventures and other related and unrelated parties. We manage each homebuilding community as an operating segment and have aggregated these communities into reportable segments based on geography as follows:
		•		Southern California, comprised of communities in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange Counties, and the Inland Empire;
		•		San Diego, comprised of communities in San Diego County, California;
		•		Northern California, comprised of communities in northern and central California, and the central coast of California;
		•		Mountain West, comprised of communities in Colorado and Washington;
		•		South West, comprised of communities in Arizona, Nevada and Texas; and
		•		East, comprised of communities in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.
	In accordance with ASC 280, in determining the most appropriate aggregation of our homebuilding communities, we also considered similar economic and other characteristics, including product types, average selling prices, gross profits, production processes, suppliers, subcontractors, regulatory environments, land acquisition results, and underlying demand and supply.
	Our Corporate segment primarily provides management services to our operating segments, and includes results of our captive insurance provider, which primarily administers claims reinsured by third party carriers and the deductibles and retentions under those third party policies. Results of our insurance brokerage services business are also included in our Corporate segment.
	The reportable segments follow the same accounting policies as our consolidated financial statements described in Note 2. Operational results of each reportable segment are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been achieved had the reportable segment been an independent, stand-alone entity during the periods presented.
	Financial information relating to reportable segments was as follows:
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	Southern California		$	352,121		$	316,339
	San Diego			169,876			160,593
	Northern California			328,010			286,513
	Mountain West			357,316			316,459
	South West			197,780			155,416
	East			10,138			5,096
	Total homebuilding assets			1,415,241			1,240,416
	Corporate			188,404			264,917
	Total assets		$	1,603,645		$	1,505,333
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Inventory:
	Southern California		$	263,906		$	239,986
	San Diego			150,381			142,395
	Northern California			286,451			249,111
	Mountain West			300,084			247,294
	South West			172,039			132,484
	East			5,247			2,002
	Total inventory		$	1,178,108		$	1,013,272
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(In thousands)						(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Southern California		$	119,584		$	39,847		$	261,940		$	136,135
	San Diego			26,312			40,534			71,655			81,523
	Northern California			58,706			70,989			162,772			152,120
	Mountain West			40,845			46,961			100,973			109,150
	South West			38,923			37,471			122,885			105,157
	East			0			2,277			0			5,807
	Total homebuilding revenues			284,370			238,079			720,225			589,892
	Corporate			119			230			462			687
	Total revenues		$	284,489		$	238,309		$	720,687		$	590,579
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(In thousands)						(In thousands)
	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Southern California		$	23,022		$	8,961		$	47,243		$	29,101
	San Diego			980			2,836			6,693			2,415
	Northern California			9,527			11,109			29,940			18,649
	Mountain West			1,577			1,316			(3	)		632
	South West			1,176			1,230			4,521			2,691
	East			(455	)		(134	)		(2,419	)		(289	)
	Total homebuilding income before income taxes			35,827			25,318			85,975			53,199
	Corporate			3,957			1,789			4,309			697
	Total income before income taxes		$	39,784		$	27,107		$	90,284		$	53,896

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa

Supplemental Guarantor Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Supplemental Guarantor Information	'
	18. Supplemental Guarantor Information
	The obligations under the Secured Notes are not guaranteed by any SHLP joint venture where SHLP Corp does not own 100% of the economic interest, including those that are consolidated, and the collateral securing the Secured Notes does not include a pledge of the capital stock of any subsidiary if such pledge would result in a requirement that SHLP Corp file separate financial statements with respect to such subsidiary pursuant to Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
	Pursuant to the Indenture, a guarantor may be released from its guarantee obligations only under certain customary circumstances specified in the indenture, namely (1) upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such guarantor, (2) upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of such guarantor, (3) upon the designation of such guarantor as an unrestricted subsidiary for covenant purposes in accordance with the terms of the indenture, (4) upon a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant, or (5) upon the full satisfaction of our obligations under the indenture.
	Presented herein are the condensed consolidated financial statements provided for in Rule 3-10(f) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act for the guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
	September 30, 2014
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	96,402		$	34,078		$	8,802		$	0		$	139,282
	Restricted cash			294			126			74			0			494
	Accounts and other receivables, net			119,247			25,681			16,656			(15,627	)		145,957
	Receivables from related parties, net			8,137			11,817			3,198			0			23,152
	Inventory			961,983			214,640			4,620			(3,135	)		1,178,108
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			28,053			1,411			28,972			0			58,436
	Investments in subsidiaries			784,348			75,496			87,381			(947,225	)		0
	Other assets, net			27,706			30,377			133			0			58,216
	Intercompany			0			562,977			0			(562,977	)		0
	Total assets		$	2,026,170		$	956,603		$	149,836		$	(1,528,964	)	$	1,603,645
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Notes payable		$	761,740		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	761,740
	Payables to related parties			20			0			1			7,077			7,098
	Accounts payable			37,614			13,607			301			0			51,522
	Other liabilities			197,977			61,629			44,103			(15,628	)		288,081
	Intercompany			534,006			0			39,182			(573,188	)		0
	Total liabilities			1,531,357			75,236			83,587			(581,739	)		1,108,441
	Equity:
	SHLP equity:
	Owners’ equity			489,691			876,245			65,858			(942,103	)		489,691
	Accumulated other comprehensive income			5,122			5,122			0			(5,122	)		5,122
	Total SHLP equity			494,813			881,367			65,858			(947,225	)		494,813
	Non-controlling interests			0			0			391			0			391
	Total equity			494,813			881,367			66,249			(947,225	)		495,204
	Total liabilities and equity		$	2,026,170		$	956,603		$	149,836		$	(1,528,964	)	$	1,603,645
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at September 30, 2014 was not material.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
	December 31, 2013
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp (b)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	153,794		$	43,803		$	8,608		$	0		$	206,205
	Restricted cash			695			354			140			0			1,189
	Accounts and other receivables, net			120,299			26,754			28,696			(28,250	)		147,499
	Receivables from related parties, net			9,251			22,027			796			276			32,350
	Inventory			749,832			263,213			3,361			(3,134	)		1,013,272
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			22,068			1,091			24,589			0			47,748
	Investments in subsidiaries			748,326			69,755			90,484			(908,565	)		0
	Other assets, net			24,030			32,957			83			0			57,070
	Intercompany			0			465,706			0			(465,706	)		0
	Total assets		$	1,828,295		$	925,660		$	156,757		$	(1,405,379	)	$	1,505,333
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Notes payable		$	751,708		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	751,708
	Payables to related parties			20			0			1			0			21
	Accounts payable			36,594			25,334			418			0			62,346
	Other liabilities			171,470			41,370			61,211			(28,250	)		245,801
	Intercompany			423,447			0			45,117			(468,564	)		0
	Total liabilities			1,383,239			66,704			106,747			(496,814	)		1,059,876
	Equity:
	SHLP equity:
Owners’ equity			440,268			854,168			49,609			(903,777	)		440,268
Accumulated other comprehensive income			4,788			4,788			0			(4,788	)		4,788
Total SHLP equity			445,056			858,956			49,609			(908,565	)		445,056
Non-controlling interests			0			0			401			0			401
Total equity			445,056			858,956			50,010			(908,565	)		445,457
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,828,295		$	925,660		$	156,757		$	(1,405,379	)	$	1,505,333
(b)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at December 31, 2013 was not material.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Revenues		$	171,807		$	108,491		$	4,191		$	0		$	284,489
Cost of sales			(136,363	)		(79,919	)		(313	)		0			(216,595	)
Gross margin			35,444			28,572			3,878			0			67,894
Selling expenses			(9,685	)		(4,163	)		(1,634	)		0			(15,482	)
General and administrative expenses			(11,388	)		(4,292	)		(753	)		0			(16,433	)
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(237	)		76			449			0			288
Equity in income from subsidiaries			21,246			3,645			11			(24,902	)		0
Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			4,001			0			4,001
Interest expense			(160	)		0			0			0			(160	)
Other income (expense), net			(1,472	)		1,167			(19	)		0			(324	)
Income before income taxes			33,748			25,005			5,933			(24,902	)		39,784
Income tax expense			1			(6,052	)		(2	)		0			(6,053	)
Net income			33,749			18,953			5,931			(24,902	)		33,731
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			18			0			18
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	33,749		$	18,953		$	5,949		$	(24,902	)	$	33,749
Comprehensive income		$	33,770		$	18,974		$	5,931		$	(24,923	)	$	33,752
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Revenues		$	131,052		$	102,989		$	4,268		$	0		$	238,309
Cost of sales			(106,661	)		(75,615	)		(313	)		128			(182,461	)
Gross margin			24,391			27,374			3,955			128			55,848
Selling expenses			(7,787	)		(5,081	)		(1,423	)		0			(14,291	)
General and administrative expenses			(8,427	)		(5,056	)		(614	)		0			(14,097	)
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(579	)		10			(47	)		0			(616	)
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries			20,256			908			(822	)		(20,342	)		0
Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			1,758			0			1,758
Interest expense			(130	)		(15	)		0			0			(145	)
Other income (expense), net			(1,900	)		797			(119	)		(128	)		(1,350	)
Income before income taxes			25,824			18,937			2,688			(20,342	)		27,107
Income tax benefit (expense)			0			(1,282	)		1			0			(1,281	)
Net income			25,824			17,655			2,689			(20,342	)		25,826
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			(2	)		0			(2	)
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	25,824		$	17,655		$	2,687		$	(20,342	)	$	25,824
Comprehensive income		$	25,839		$	17,670		$	2,689		$	(20,357	)	$	25,841
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Revenues		$	398,559		$	309,776		$	12,352		$	0		$	720,687
Cost of sales			(318,844	)		(227,757	)		(1,062	)		0			(547,663	)
Gross margin			79,715			82,019			11,290			0			173,024
Selling expenses			(24,111	)		(12,298	)		(5,427	)		0			(41,836	)
General and administrative expenses			(33,697	)		(12,080	)		(2,180	)		0			(47,957	)
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(895	)		102			2,899			0			2,106
Equity in income from subsidiaries			58,259			5,230			39			(63,528	)		0
Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			6,175			0			6,175
Interest expense			(436	)		0			0			0			(436	)
Other income (expense), net			(5,078	)		4,373			(87	)		0			(792	)
Income before income taxes			73,757			67,346			12,709			(63,528	)		90,284
Income tax expense			(3	)		(16,531	)		(21	)		0			(16,555	)
Net income			73,754			50,815			12,688			(63,528	)		73,729
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			25			0			25
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	73,754		$	50,815		$	12,713		$	(63,528	)	$	73,754
Comprehensive income		$	74,088		$	51,149		$	12,688		$	(63,862	)	$	74,063
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Revenues		$	332,157		$	242,345		$	16,077		$	0		$	590,579
Cost of sales			(271,041	)		(183,072	)		(1,022	)		366			(454,769	)
Gross margin			61,116			59,273			15,055			366			135,810
Selling expenses			(20,519	)		(12,305	)		(4,469	)		0			(37,293	)
General and administrative expenses			(24,747	)		(13,285	)		(2,100	)		0			(40,132	)
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(1,219	)		(12	)		461			0			(770	)
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries			44,761			(286	)		(2,154	)		(42,321	)		0
Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			1,599			0			1,599
Interest expense			(3,562	)		(1,413	)		0			0			(4,975	)
Other income (expense), net			(3,631	)		2,765			889			(366	)		(343	)
Income before income taxes			52,199			34,737			9,281			(42,321	)		53,896
Income tax expense			(3	)		(1,687	)		(11	)		0			(1,701	)
Net income			52,196			33,050			9,270			(42,321	)		52,195
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			1			0			1
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	52,196		$	33,050		$	9,271		$	(42,321	)	$	52,196
Comprehensive income		$	52,448		$	33,302		$	9,270		$	(42,573	)	$	52,447
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	(159,931	)	$	85,946		$	(1,490	)	$	7,353		$	(68,122	)
Investing activities
Collections on promissory notes from related parties			3,256			10,050			0			0			13,306
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(4,172	)		(99	)		(7,257	)		0			(11,528	)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			0			34			9,068						9,102
Other investing activities			(1,663	)		(13	)		(2,415	)		0			(4,091	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(2,579	)		10,146			(604	)		0			6,963
Financing activities
Intercompany			110,897			(105,817	)		2,273			(7,353	)		0
Distributions to owners			(4,385	)		0			0			0			(4,385	)
Contributions from owners			945			0			0			0			945
Other financing activities			(2,339	)		0			15			0			(2,324	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			105,118			(105,817	)		2,288			(7,353	)		(5,764	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(57,392	)		(9,725	)		194			0			(66,923	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			153,794			43,803			8,608			0			206,205
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	96,402		$	34,078		$	8,802		$	0		$	139,282
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	(116,651	)	$	(22,609	)	$	10,063		$	4,748		$	(124,449	)
Investing activities
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(8,342	)		(194	)		(11,602	)		0			(20,138	)
Other investing activities			317			6,273			3,432			0			10,022
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(8,025	)		6,079			(8,170	)		0			(10,116	)
Financing activities
Intercompany			38,421			(27,151	)		(6,522	)		(4,748	)		0
Principal payments to financial institutions and others			(1,993	)		0			0			0			(1,993	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			36,428			(27,151	)		(6,522	)		(4,748	)		(1,993	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(88,248	)		(43,681	)		(4,629	)		0			(136,558	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			216,914			48,895			13,947			0			279,756
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	128,666		$	5,214		$	9,318		$	0		$	143,198
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory	'
	Inventory
	We capitalize preacquisition, land, development and other allocated costs, including interest during development and home construction. Applicable costs incurred after development or construction is substantially complete are charged to selling, general and administrative, and other expenses as appropriate. Preacquisition costs, including non-refundable land deposits, are expensed to other income (expense), net when we determine continuation of the respective project is not probable.
	Land, development and other indirect costs are typically allocated to inventory using a methodology that approximates the relative-sales-value method. Home construction costs are recorded using the specific identification method. Cost of sales for homes closed includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred) based upon the total number of homes expected to close in each community. Changes to estimated total development costs subsequent to initial home closings in a community are generally allocated on a relative-sales-value method to remaining homes in the community.
	Inventory is stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is determined to be unrecoverable, in which case inventory is adjusted to fair value or fair value less cost to sell. Quarterly, we review our real estate assets at each community for indicators of impairment. Real estate assets include projects actively selling, under development, held for future development or held for sale. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in local housing market values and prices of comparable homes, significant decreases in gross margins and sales absorption rates, costs in excess of budget, and actual or projected cash flow losses.
	If there are indications of impairment, we analyze the budgets and cash flows of our real estate assets and compare the estimated remaining undiscounted future cash flows of the community to the asset’s carrying value. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value, the asset is deemed impaired and adjusted to fair value. For land held for sale, if the fair value less costs to sell exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. These impairment evaluations require use of estimates and assumptions regarding future conditions, including timing and amounts of development costs and sales prices of real estate assets, to determine if estimated future undiscounted cash flows will be sufficient to recover the asset’s carrying value.
	When estimating undiscounted cash flows of a community, various assumptions are made, including: (i) the number of homes available and the expected prices and incentives offered by us or other builders, and future price adjustments based on market and economic trends; (ii) expected sales pace and cancellation rates based on local housing market conditions, competition and historical trends; (iii) costs expended to date and expected to be incurred, including, but not limited to, land and land development, home construction, interest, indirect construction and overhead, and selling and marketing costs; (iv) alternative product offerings that could impact sales pace, sales price and/or building costs; and (v) alternative uses for the property.
	Many assumptions are interdependent and a change in one may require a corresponding change to other assumptions. For example, increasing or decreasing sales rates have a direct impact on the estimated price of a home, the level of time sensitive costs (such as indirect construction, overhead and interest), and selling and marketing costs (such as model maintenance and advertising). Depending on the underlying objective of the community, assumptions could have a significant impact on the projected cash flows. For example, if the objective is to preserve operating margins, the cash flows will be different than if the objective is to increase sales. These objectives may vary significantly by community.
	If assets are considered impaired, the impairment charge is the amount the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted for inherent risks associated with real estate assets or other valuation techniques. These discounted cash flows are impacted by expected risk based on estimated land development, construction and delivery timelines; market risk of price erosion; uncertainty of development or construction cost increases; and other risks specific to the asset or market conditions where the asset is located when the assessment is made. These factors are specific to each community and may vary. The discount rate used in determining each asset’s fair value depends on the community’s projected life and development stage.
Completed Operations Claim Costs	'
	Completed Operations Claim Costs
	We maintain, and require our subcontractors to maintain, general liability insurance which includes coverage for completed operations losses and damages. Most subcontractors carry this insurance through our “rolling wrap-up” insurance program, where our risks and risks of participating subcontractors are insured through a common set of master policies.
	Completed operations claims reserves primarily represent claims for property damage to completed homes and projects outside of our one-to-two year warranty period. Specific terms and conditions of completed operations claims vary depending on the market where homes close and can range up to ten years from the close of a home.
	We record expenses and liabilities for estimated costs of potential completed operations claims based upon aggregated loss experience, which includes an estimate of completed operations claims incurred but not reported and is actuarially estimated using individual case-based valuations and statistical analysis. These estimates make up our entire reserve and are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in completed operations claims related to our markets and products built, claims reporting and settlement patterns, third party recoveries, insurance industry practices, insurance regulations and legal precedent. Because state regulations vary, completed operations claims are reported and resolved over an extended period, sometimes exceeding 10 years. As a result, actual costs may differ significantly from estimates.
	The actuarial analyses that determine these incurred but not reported claims consider various factors, including frequency and severity of losses, which are based on our historical claims experience supplemented by industry data. The actuarial analyses of these claims and reserves also consider historical third party recovery rates and claims management expenses. Due to inherent uncertainties related to each of these factors, periodic changes to such factors based on updated relevant information could result in actual costs differing significantly from estimates.
	In accordance with our completed operations insurance policies, completed operations claims costs are recoverable from our subcontractors or insurance carriers. Claims through July 31, 2009 are insured or reinsured by third-party insurance carriers, and claims commencing August 1, 2009 are insured by third-party and affiliate insurance carriers.
Revenues	'
	Revenues
	In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, revenues from housing and other real estate sales are recognized when the respective units close. Housing and other real estate sales close when all conditions of escrow are met, including delivery of the home or other real estate asset, title passage, appropriate consideration is received or collection of associated receivables, if any, is reasonably assured and when we have no other continuing involvement in the asset. Sales incentives are a reduction of revenues when the respective unit closes.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	SHLP is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. As a limited partnership, SHLP is subject to certain minimal state taxes and fees; however, taxes on income realized by SHLP are generally the obligation of the Partners and their owners.
	SHI and PIC are C corporations. Federal and state income taxes are provided for these entities in accordance with ASC 740. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect the year in which differences are expected to reverse.
	Deferred tax assets are evaluated to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established based on our determination if it is more likely than not some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on generation of future taxable income during periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Assessment of a valuation allowance includes giving appropriate consideration to all positive and negative evidence related to realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses in recent years, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards before they expire, and tax planning alternatives. Judgment is required in determining future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	We follow certain accounting guidance on how uncertain tax positions should be accounted for and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements. The guidance requires assessment of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the tax returns and to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained upon examination by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not criteria would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. We are required to assess open tax years, as defined by the statute of limitations, for all major jurisdictions, including federal and certain states. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities. We have examinations in progress but believe no uncertain tax positions exist that do not meet the more-likely-than-not criteria (see Note 13).
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”), which is intended to change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance disclosures. Under this new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. If the disposal does qualify as a discontinued operation, the entity will be required to provide expanded disclosures, as well as disclosure of the pretax income attributable to the disposal of a significant part of an entity that does not qualify as a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 will be effective beginning January 1, 2015 and subsequent interim periods. The adoption of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides a single comprehensive model in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 will require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update creates a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) including (i) identifying the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-09 will be effective beginning January 1, 2017 and subsequent interim periods. We have the option to apply the provisions of ASU 2014-09 either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of applying this ASU recognized at the date of initial application. Early adoption is not permitted. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires the Company to perform interim and annual assessments on whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the our ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and to provide related disclosures, if required. ASU 2014-15 will be effective beginning January 1, 2016 and subsequent interim periods. The adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Tables

Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Net Book Value and Estimated Fair Value of Notes Payable	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, as required by ASC 825, net book value and estimated fair value of notes payable were as follows:
		September 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Net Book		Estimated		Net Book		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
		(In thousands)
	$750,000 senior secured notes	$	750,000	$	795,000	$	750,000	$	830,625
	Secured promissory notes	$	11,740	$	11,740	$	1,708	$	1,708

Accounts_and_Other_Receivables1

Accounts and Other Receivables, net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounts and Other Receivables	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts and other receivables, net were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Insurance receivables	$	131,793		$	138,610
	Escrow receivables		2,715			586
	Notes receivables		4,109			3,155
	Development receivables		1,317			3,093
	Other receivables		8,012			4,031
	Reserve		(1,989	)		(1,976	)
	Total accounts and other receivables, net	$	145,957		$	147,499

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Summary of Inventory	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, inventory was as follows:
			September 30,			December 31,
			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Model homes		$	111,996		$	87,728
	Completed homes for sale			41,393			20,285
	Homes under construction			373,147			257,662
	Lots available for construction			336,712			342,622
	Land under development			110,112			122,257
	Land held for future development			99,883			70,618
	Land held for sale, including water system connection rights of $11.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013			76,630			79,102
	Land deposits and preacquisition costs			28,235			32,998
	Total inventory		$	1,178,108		$	1,013,272
Interest Incurred, Expensed and Capitalized	'
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, interest incurred, expensed and capitalized was as follows:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(In thousands)
	Interest incurred		$	17,112		$	16,780		$	51,092		$	50,322
	Interest expensed (a)		$	160		$	145		$	436		$	4,975
	Interest capitalized as a cost of inventory		$	16,068		$	15,925		$	48,091		$	43,874
	Interest previously capitalized as a cost of inventory, included in cost of sales		$	(17,228	)	$	(15,110	)	$	(45,136	)	$	(40,014	)
	Interest capitalized in ending inventory (b)		$	105,055		$	106,709		$	105,055		$	106,709
	Interest capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures		$	884		$	710		$	2,565		$	1,473
	Interest previously capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, included in equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		$	(106	)	$	(244	)	$	(497	)	$	(829	)
	Interest capitalized in ending investments in unconsolidated joint ventures		$	3,157		$	644		$	3,157		$	644
	(a)	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, qualifying assets exceeded debt, therefore no interest on the Secured Notes (see Note 10) was expensed; interest expense represents fees charged on the unused revolving credit facility that is not considered a cost of borrowing and is not capitalized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, assets qualifying for interest capitalization were less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.
	(b)	In prior years, inventory impairment charges were recorded against total inventory of the respective community. Accordingly, capitalized interest reflects the gross amount of capitalized interest as impairment charges recognized were generally not allocated to specific components of inventory.

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures_

Investments in Joint Ventures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity Method Investments Summarized Notes Payable Information	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, total unconsolidated joint ventures’ notes payable were as follows:
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(In thousands)
	Bank and seller notes payable:
	Guaranteed (subject to remargin obligations)		$	61,251	$	52,515
	Non-guaranteed			15,941		10,073
	Total bank and seller notes payable (a)			77,192		62,588
	Partner notes payable (b):
	Unsecured			36,070		16,001
	Total unconsolidated joint venture notes payable		$	113,262	$	78,589
	Other unconsolidated joint venture notes payable (c)		$	32,225	$	55,441
	(a)	All bank seller notes were secured by real property.
	(b)	No guarantees were provided on partner notes payable. In January 2014, a $3.2 million partner note from one joint venture was paid in full.
	(c)	Through indirect effective ownership in two joint ventures of 12.3% and .0003%, respectively, that had bank notes payable secured by real property in which we have not provided a guaranty.

Other_Assets_Net_Tables

Other Assets, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Other Assets	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, other assets were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Income tax receivable	$	1,174	$	2,199
	Deferred tax asset (see Note 13)		14,609		16,337
	Investments		9,853		9,439
	Property and equipment, net		4,352		4,103
	Capitalized loan origination fees		10,413		11,089
	Prepaid bank fees		117		152
	Deposits in lieu of bonds and letters of credit		11,028		10,294
	Prepaid insurance		5,456		2,460
	Other		1,214		997
	Total other assets, net	$	58,216	$	57,070

Notes_Payable_Tables

Notes Payable (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Summary of Notes Payable	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, notes payable were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	$750.0 million 8.625% senior secured notes (the “Secured Notes”), due May 2019	$	750,000	$	750,000
	$125.0 million secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), interest currently at the eurocurrency rate plus 2.75%, matures March 1, 2016		0		0
	Promissory notes, interest ranging from 1% to 6%, maturing through 2016, secured by deeds of trust on inventory		11,740		1,708
	Total notes payable	$	761,740	$	751,708

Other_Liabilities_Tables

Other Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Summary of Other Liabilities	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, other liabilities were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Completed operations	$	131,793		$	138,610
	Warranty reserves		21,092			20,648
	Accrued profit and revenue participation arrangements (see Note 12)		22,878			678
	Deferred revenue/gain		23,471			29,358
	Provisions for closed homes/communities		6,818			10,591
	Deposits (primarily homebuyer)		19,446			14,281
	Legal reserves		6,265			4,576
	Accrued interest		24,299			8,086
	Accrued compensation and benefits		18,964			9,389
	Distributions payable		2,260			2,531
	Deficit Distributions (see Note 7)		3,486			351
	Other		7,309			6,702
	Total other liabilities	$	288,081		$	245,801
Changes in Completed Operations Reserves	'
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, changes in completed operations reserves were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	137,418		$	131,248		$	138,610		$	131,519
	Reserves provided		3,308			1,718			9,012			4,786
	Claims paid		(8,933	)		(5,948	)		(15,829	)		(9,287	)
	Balance, end of the period	$	131,793		$	127,018		$	131,793		$	127,018
Changes in Warranty Liabilities	'
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, changes in warranty liability were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	20,838		$	18,521		$	20,648		$	17,749
	Provision for warranties		3,100			2,804			9,042			7,190
	Warranty costs paid		(2,846	)		(2,264	)		(8,598	)		(5,878	)
	Balance, end of the period	$	21,092		$	19,061		$	21,092		$	19,061

Related_Party_Transactions_Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Receivables from Related Parties	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, receivables from related parties, net were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Note receivable from JFSCI	$	11,628		$	21,588
	Notes receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures		5,036			1,037
	Notes receivable from related parties		15,624			18,822
	Reserves for note receivables from related parties		(12,898	)		(12,842	)
	Receivables from related parties		3,762			3,745
	Total receivables from related parties, net	$	23,152		$	32,350

Contingencies_and_Commitments_

Contingencies and Commitments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Contingent Liabilities and Commitments	'
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, certain unrecorded contingent liabilities and commitments were as follows:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Tax Court CCM case (capped at $70.0 million, see Note 13)	$	70,000	$	70,000
	Remargin obligations and guarantees for unconsolidated joint ventures (see Note 7)		37,756		28,684
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for Company projects		78,367		77,276
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for joint venture projects		22,744		22,845
	Costs to complete on surety bonds for related party projects		1,611		1,614
	Water system connection rights purchase obligation		30,506		30,506
	Total unrecorded contingent liabilities and commitments	$	240,984	$	230,925

Supplemental_Disclosure_to_Con1

Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosure	'
	Supplemental disclosures to the consolidated statements of cash flows were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
	Income taxes paid	$	13,271		$	66
	Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	$	436		$	3,235
	Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net	$	334		$	252
	Reclassification of Deficit Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures to other liabilities	$	(3,134	)	$	(339	)
	Purchase of land in exchange for note payable	$	12,371		$	2,964
	Deferred gain on inventory purchased from unconsolidated joint venture	$	901		$	0
	Distribution to Owners for assumption of liability and revenue participation payments for land purchased from a related party under common control	$	(20,891	)	$	0
	Contribution of inventory to unconsolidated joint venture	$	8,981		$	4,082

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Financial Information Related to Reportable Segments	'
	Financial information relating to reportable segments was as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	Southern California	$	352,121		$	316,339
	San Diego		169,876			160,593
	Northern California		328,010			286,513
	Mountain West		357,316			316,459
	South West		197,780			155,416
	East		10,138			5,096
	Total homebuilding assets		1,415,241			1,240,416
	Corporate		188,404			264,917
	Total assets	$	1,603,645		$	1,505,333
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Inventory:
	Southern California	$	263,906		$	239,986
	San Diego		150,381			142,395
	Northern California		286,451			249,111
	Mountain West		300,084			247,294
	South West		172,039			132,484
	East		5,247			2,002
	Total inventory	$	1,178,108		$	1,013,272
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)						(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Southern California	$	119,584		$	39,847		$	261,940		$	136,135
	San Diego		26,312			40,534			71,655			81,523
	Northern California		58,706			70,989			162,772			152,120
	Mountain West		40,845			46,961			100,973			109,150
	South West		38,923			37,471			122,885			105,157
	East		0			2,277			0			5,807
	Total homebuilding revenues		284,370			238,079			720,225			589,892
	Corporate		119			230			462			687
	Total revenues	$	284,489		$	238,309		$	720,687		$	590,579
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(In thousands)						(In thousands)
	Income (loss) before income taxes:
	Southern California	$	23,022		$	8,961		$	47,243		$	29,101
	San Diego		980			2,836			6,693			2,415
	Northern California		9,527			11,109			29,940			18,649
	Mountain West		1,577			1,316			(3	)		632
	South West		1,176			1,230			4,521			2,691
	East		(455	)		(134	)		(2,419	)		(289	)
	Total homebuilding income before income taxes		35,827			25,318			85,975			53,199
	Corporate		3,957			1,789			4,309			697
	Total income before income taxes	$	39,784		$	27,107		$	90,284		$	53,896

Supplemental_Guarantor_Informa1

Supplemental Guarantor Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet	'
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
	September 30, 2014
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	96,402		$	34,078		$	8,802		$	0		$	139,282
	Restricted cash			294			126			74			0			494
	Accounts and other receivables, net			119,247			25,681			16,656			(15,627	)		145,957
	Receivables from related parties, net			8,137			11,817			3,198			0			23,152
	Inventory			961,983			214,640			4,620			(3,135	)		1,178,108
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			28,053			1,411			28,972			0			58,436
	Investments in subsidiaries			784,348			75,496			87,381			(947,225	)		0
	Other assets, net			27,706			30,377			133			0			58,216
	Intercompany			0			562,977			0			(562,977	)		0
	Total assets		$	2,026,170		$	956,603		$	149,836		$	(1,528,964	)	$	1,603,645
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Notes payable		$	761,740		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	761,740
	Payables to related parties			20			0			1			7,077			7,098
	Accounts payable			37,614			13,607			301			0			51,522
	Other liabilities			197,977			61,629			44,103			(15,628	)		288,081
	Intercompany			534,006			0			39,182			(573,188	)		0
	Total liabilities			1,531,357			75,236			83,587			(581,739	)		1,108,441
	Equity:
	SHLP equity:
	Owners’ equity			489,691			876,245			65,858			(942,103	)		489,691
	Accumulated other comprehensive income			5,122			5,122			0			(5,122	)		5,122
	Total SHLP equity			494,813			881,367			65,858			(947,225	)		494,813
	Non-controlling interests			0			0			391			0			391
	Total equity			494,813			881,367			66,249			(947,225	)		495,204
	Total liabilities and equity		$	2,026,170		$	956,603		$	149,836		$	(1,528,964	)	$	1,603,645
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at September 30, 2014 was not material.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
	December 31, 2013
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp (b)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	153,794		$	43,803		$	8,608		$	0		$	206,205
	Restricted cash			695			354			140			0			1,189
	Accounts and other receivables, net			120,299			26,754			28,696			(28,250	)		147,499
	Receivables from related parties, net			9,251			22,027			796			276			32,350
	Inventory			749,832			263,213			3,361			(3,134	)		1,013,272
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			22,068			1,091			24,589			0			47,748
	Investments in subsidiaries			748,326			69,755			90,484			(908,565	)		0
	Other assets, net			24,030			32,957			83			0			57,070
	Intercompany			0			465,706			0			(465,706	)		0
	Total assets		$	1,828,295		$	925,660		$	156,757		$	(1,405,379	)	$	1,505,333
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Notes payable		$	751,708		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	751,708
	Payables to related parties			20			0			1			0			21
	Accounts payable			36,594			25,334			418			0			62,346
	Other liabilities			171,470			41,370			61,211			(28,250	)		245,801
	Intercompany			423,447			0			45,117			(468,564	)		0
	Total liabilities			1,383,239			66,704			106,747			(496,814	)		1,059,876
	Equity:
	SHLP equity:
	Owners’ equity			440,268			854,168			49,609			(903,777	)		440,268
	Accumulated other comprehensive income			4,788			4,788			0			(4,788	)		4,788
	Total SHLP equity			445,056			858,956			49,609			(908,565	)		445,056
	Non-controlling interests			0			0			401			0			401
Total equity			445,056			858,956			50,010			(908,565	)		445,457
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,828,295		$	925,660		$	156,757		$	(1,405,379	)	$	1,505,333
(b)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at December 31, 2013 was not material.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive income (Loss)	'
	Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Revenues		$	171,807		$	108,491		$	4,191		$	0		$	284,489
	Cost of sales			(136,363	)		(79,919	)		(313	)		0			(216,595	)
	Gross margin			35,444			28,572			3,878			0			67,894
	Selling expenses			(9,685	)		(4,163	)		(1,634	)		0			(15,482	)
	General and administrative expenses			(11,388	)		(4,292	)		(753	)		0			(16,433	)
	Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(237	)		76			449			0			288
	Equity in income from subsidiaries			21,246			3,645			11			(24,902	)		0
	Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			4,001			0			4,001
	Interest expense			(160	)		0			0			0			(160	)
	Other income (expense), net			(1,472	)		1,167			(19	)		0			(324	)
	Income before income taxes			33,748			25,005			5,933			(24,902	)		39,784
	Income tax expense			1			(6,052	)		(2	)		0			(6,053	)
	Net income			33,749			18,953			5,931			(24,902	)		33,731
	Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			18			0			18
	Net income attributable to SHLP		$	33,749		$	18,953		$	5,949		$	(24,902	)	$	33,749
	Comprehensive income		$	33,770		$	18,974		$	5,931		$	(24,923	)	$	33,752
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
	Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Revenues		$	131,052		$	102,989		$	4,268		$	0		$	238,309
	Cost of sales			(106,661	)		(75,615	)		(313	)		128			(182,461	)
	Gross margin			24,391			27,374			3,955			128			55,848
	Selling expenses			(7,787	)		(5,081	)		(1,423	)		0			(14,291	)
	General and administrative expenses			(8,427	)		(5,056	)		(614	)		0			(14,097	)
	Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(579	)		10			(47	)		0			(616	)
	Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries			20,256			908			(822	)		(20,342	)		0
	Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			1,758			0			1,758
	Interest expense			(130	)		(15	)		0			0			(145	)
	Other income (expense), net			(1,900	)		797			(119	)		(128	)		(1,350	)
	Income before income taxes			25,824			18,937			2,688			(20,342	)		27,107
	Income tax benefit (expense)			0			(1,282	)		1			0			(1,281	)
	Net income			25,824			17,655			2,689			(20,342	)		25,826
	Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			(2	)		0			(2	)
	Net income attributable to SHLP		$	25,824		$	17,655		$	2,687		$	(20,342	)	$	25,824
	Comprehensive income		$	25,839		$	17,670		$	2,689		$	(20,357	)	$	25,841
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.
	Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Revenues		$	398,559		$	309,776		$	12,352		$	0		$	720,687
	Cost of sales			(318,844	)		(227,757	)		(1,062	)		0			(547,663	)
	Gross margin			79,715			82,019			11,290			0			173,024
	Selling expenses			(24,111	)		(12,298	)		(5,427	)		0			(41,836	)
	General and administrative expenses			(33,697	)		(12,080	)		(2,180	)		0			(47,957	)
	Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(895	)		102			2,899			0			2,106
	Equity in income from subsidiaries			58,259			5,230			39			(63,528	)		0
	Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			6,175			0			6,175
	Interest expense			(436	)		0			0			0			(436	)
	Other income (expense), net			(5,078	)		4,373			(87	)		0			(792	)
	Income before income taxes			73,757			67,346			12,709			(63,528	)		90,284
	Income tax expense			(3	)		(16,531	)		(21	)		0			(16,555	)
	Net income			73,754			50,815			12,688			(63,528	)		73,729
	Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			25			0			25
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	73,754		$	50,815		$	12,713		$	(63,528	)	$	73,754
Comprehensive income		$	74,088		$	51,149		$	12,688		$	(63,862	)	$	74,063
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
		Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
		(In thousands)
Revenues		$	332,157		$	242,345		$	16,077		$	0		$	590,579
Cost of sales			(271,041	)		(183,072	)		(1,022	)		366			(454,769	)
Gross margin			61,116			59,273			15,055			366			135,810
Selling expenses			(20,519	)		(12,305	)		(4,469	)		0			(37,293	)
General and administrative expenses			(24,747	)		(13,285	)		(2,100	)		0			(40,132	)
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(1,219	)		(12	)		461			0			(770	)
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries			44,761			(286	)		(2,154	)		(42,321	)		0
Gain on reinsurance transaction			0			0			1,599			0			1,599
Interest expense			(3,562	)		(1,413	)		0			0			(4,975	)
Other income (expense), net			(3,631	)		2,765			889			(366	)		(343	)
Income before income taxes			52,199			34,737			9,281			(42,321	)		53,896
Income tax expense			(3	)		(1,687	)		(11	)		0			(1,701	)
Net income			52,196			33,050			9,270			(42,321	)		52,195
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			0			0			1			0			1
Net income attributable to SHLP		$	52,196		$	33,050		$	9,271		$	(42,321	)	$	52,196
Comprehensive income		$	52,448		$	33,302		$	9,270		$	(42,573	)	$	52,447
(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	'
	Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Operating activities
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	(159,931	)	$	85,946		$	(1,490	)	$	7,353		$	(68,122	)
	Investing activities
	Collections on promissory notes from related parties			3,256			10,050			0			0			13,306
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(4,172	)		(99	)		(7,257	)		0			(11,528	)
	Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			0			34			9,068						9,102
	Other investing activities			(1,663	)		(13	)		(2,415	)		0			(4,091	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(2,579	)		10,146			(604	)		0			6,963
	Financing activities
	Intercompany			110,897			(105,817	)		2,273			(7,353	)		0
	Distributions to owners			(4,385	)		0			0			0			(4,385	)
	Contributions from owners			945			0			0			0			945
	Other financing activities			(2,339	)		0			15			0			(2,324	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			105,118			(105,817	)		2,288			(7,353	)		(5,764	)
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(57,392	)		(9,725	)		194			0			(66,923	)
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			153,794			43,803			8,608			0			206,205
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	96,402		$	34,078		$	8,802		$	0		$	139,282
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
	Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
			SHLP			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Total
			Corp. (a)			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
			(In thousands)
	Operating activities
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	(116,651	)	$	(22,609	)	$	10,063		$	4,748		$	(124,449	)
	Investing activities
	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(8,342	)		(194	)		(11,602	)		0			(20,138	)
	Other investing activities			317			6,273			3,432			0			10,022
	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(8,025	)		6,079			(8,170	)		0			(10,116	)
	Financing activities
	Intercompany			38,421			(27,151	)		(6,522	)		(4,748	)		0
	Principal payments to financial institutions and others			(1,993	)		0			0			0			(1,993	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			36,428			(27,151	)		(6,522	)		(4,748	)		(1,993	)
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(88,248	)		(43,681	)		(4,629	)		0			(136,558	)
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			216,914			48,895			13,947			0			279,756
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	128,666		$	5,214		$	9,318		$	0		$	143,198
	(a)	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (JFSCI)	Sep. 30, 2014
JFSCI	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'
Ownership interest	96.00%

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Minimum	'
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Operations claims standard warranty period	'1 year
Maximum	'
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Operations claims standard warranty period	'2 years
Completed operations extended warranty period	'10 years

Restricted_Cash_Additional_Inf

Restricted Cash - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]	'	'
Restricted cash	$0.50	$1.20

Net_Book_Values_and_Estimated_

Net Book Values and Estimated Fair Values of Notes Payable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net Book Value	$761,740	$751,708
Senior Secured Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net Book Value	750,000	750,000
Estimated Fair Value	795,000	830,625
Secured Promissory Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net Book Value	11,740	1,708
Estimated Fair Value	$11,740	$1,708

Net_Book_Values_and_Estimated_1

Net Book Values and Estimated Fair Values of Notes Payable (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2, Senior Secured Notes, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Senior Secured Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Principal amount	$750,000	$750,000

Fair_Value_Disclosures_Additio

Fair Value Disclosures - Additional Information (Detail) (Senior Secured Notes, USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate	8.63%	8.63%
Maturity date	15-May-19	15-May-19
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net Book Value	750,000	750,000
Interest rate	8.63%	'
Maturity date	15-May-19	'

Accounts_and_Other_Receivables2

Accounts and Other Receivables (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts and Other Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Insurance receivables	$131,793	$138,610
Escrow receivables	2,715	586
Notes receivables	4,109	3,155
Development receivables	1,317	3,093
Other receivables	8,012	4,031
Reserve	-1,989	-1,976
Total accounts and other receivables, net	$145,957	$147,499

Accounts_and_Other_Receivables3

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts and Other Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Insurance receivables	$131,793	$138,610
Affiliate insurance carriers	'	'
Accounts and Other Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Insurance receivables	$50,900	$44,000

Inventory_Detail

Inventory (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Homes under construction	$373,147	$257,662
Lots available for construction	336,712	342,622
Land under development	110,112	122,257
Land held for future development	99,883	70,618
Land held for sale, including water system connection rights of $11.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013	76,630	79,102
Land deposits and preacquisition costs	28,235	32,998
Total inventory	1,178,108	1,013,272
Model Homes	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Inventory finished homes	111,996	87,728
Completed Homes for Sale	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Inventory finished homes	$41,393	$20,285

Inventory_Parenthetical_Detail

Inventory (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Land held for sale	$76,630	$79,102
Water System Connection Rights	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Land held for sale	$11,400	$11,400

Inventory_Additional_Informati

Inventory - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Inventory impairment charges	$0	$0	$0	$0

Interest_Incurred_Expensed_and

Interest Incurred, Expensed and Capitalized (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Capitalized Interest [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Interest incurred	$17,112		$16,780		$51,092		$50,322
Interest expensed	160	[1]	145	[1]	436	[1]	4,975	[1]
Interest capitalized as a cost of inventory	16,068		15,925		48,091		43,874
Interest previously capitalized as a cost of inventory, included in cost of sales	-17,228		-15,110		-45,136		-40,014
Interest capitalized in ending inventory	105,055	[2]	106,709	[2]	105,055	[2]	106,709	[2]
Interest capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	884		710		2,565		1,473
Interest previously capitalized as a cost of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, included in equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	-106		-244		-497		-829
Interest capitalized in ending investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$3,157		$644		$3,157		$644
[1]	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, qualifying assets exceeded debt, therefore no interest on the Secured Notes (see Note 10) was expensed; interest expense represents fees charged on the unused revolving credit facility that is not considered a cost of borrowing and is not capitalized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, assets qualifying for interest capitalization were less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.
[2]	In prior years, inventory impairment charges were recorded against total inventory of the respective community. Accordingly, capitalized interest reflects the gross amount of capitalized interest as impairment charges recognized were generally not allocated to specific components of inventory.

Interest_Incurred_Expensed_and1

Interest Incurred, Expensed and Capitalized (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Capitalized Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Interest charged on unused revolving credit facility	$0	$0

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures_1

Investments in Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

RRWS,LLC

RRWS,LLC

Polo Estates Ventures, LLC

Polo Estates Ventures, LLC

Guarantee Provided

Guarantee Provided

Guarantee Provided

Guarantee Provided

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Fourth Unconsolidated Joint Venture

Fourth Unconsolidated Joint Venture

Fourth Unconsolidated Joint Venture

Impairment on investments in joint ventures

Impairment on investments in joint ventures

Impairment on investments in joint ventures

Impairment on investments in joint ventures

RRWS,LLC

RRWS,LLC

Polo Estates Ventures, LLC

Polo Estates Ventures, LLC

Maximum

Minimum

Investment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ownership interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deficit Distributions

$3,486,000

$351,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Impairments charges on investments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

0

Indemnification agreement from joint ventures, percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notes payable outstanding

'

'

47,000,000

47,700,000

14,300,000

4,800,000

47,000,000

47,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum remargin obligation

70,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

23,500,000

23,800,000

14,300,000

4,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum liability (cap)

'

'

35,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

21,600,000

21,600,000

'

'

21,600,000

21,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Guaranty Liabilities

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revolving basket available for joint venture investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

200.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of cumulative consolidated net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Committed capital contribution in joint venture

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

45,000,000

'

'

'

'

Aggregate capital contributions

$58,436,000

$47,748,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$20,800,000

$15,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

Total_Unconsolidated_Joint_Ven

Total Unconsolidated Joint Ventures' Note Payable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Notes payable	$761,740		$751,708
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Joint venture debt	113,262		78,589
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | Bank and Seller Financing Notes Payable	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Notes payable	77,192	[1]	62,588	[1]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | Bank and Seller Financing Notes Payable | Guarantee Provided	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Notes payable	61,251		52,515
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | Bank and Seller Financing Notes Payable | Non Guaranteed Obligations	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Notes payable	15,941		10,073
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | Partner Notes Payable | Unsecured Debt	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Notes payable	36,070	[2]	16,001	[2]
Non-Direct Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	'		'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'
Joint venture debt	$32,225	[3]	$55,441	[3]
[1]	All bank seller notes were secured by real property.
[2]	No guarantees were provided on partner notes payable. In January 2014, a $3.2 million partner note from one joint venture was paid in full.
[3]	Through indirect effective ownership in two joint ventures of 12.3% and .0003%, respectively, that had bank notes payable secured by real property in which we have not provided a guaranty.

Total_Unconsolidated_Joint_Ven1

Total Unconsolidated Joint Ventures' Note Payable (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Joint Venture One	Indirect	Indirect
				Joint Venture One	Joint Venture Two
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Notes payable	$761,740	$751,708	$3,200	'	'
Ownership interest	'	'	'	12.30%	0.00%

Variable_Interest_Entities_Add

Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$0	'
RRWS,LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition, development and construction loans, term	'2 years	'
Acquisition, development and construction loans, extension option	'1 year	'
Notes payable outstanding	47,000,000	47,700,000
Maximum liability (cap)	35,000,000	'
Maximum aggregate liability	'We have a maximum aggregate liability under the re-margin arrangements of the lesser of 50% of the outstanding balances in total or $35.0 million. Obligations of the Company and RRWS Partner under the re-margin arrangements are limited during the first two years of the loans.	'
Maximum remargin obligation	23,500,000	23,800,000
Polo Estates Ventures, LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition, development and construction loans, term	'2 years	'
Acquisition, development and construction loans, extension option	'1 year	'
Notes payable outstanding	14,300,000	4,800,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	21,600,000	21,600,000
Vistancia West Holdings LP | Revolving Credit Facility	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition, development and construction loans, term	'3 years	'
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	27,500,000	'
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	0	'
Affiliated Entity | RRWS,LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	50.00%	'
Affiliated Entity | Polo Estates Ventures, LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	50.00%	'
Affiliated Entity | Vistancia West Holdings LP	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	10.00%	'
Third Party | RRWS,LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	50.00%	'
Third Party | Polo Estates Ventures, LLC	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	50.00%	'
Third Party | Vistancia West Holdings LP	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
VIEs ownership interest	90.00%	'
Land Option Contracts	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Refundable and non-refundable cash deposits	23,200,000	'
Remaining purchase price of cash deposits	411,200,000	'
Land Option Contracts | Loss Exposure	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Non-refundable deposits	20,300,000	6,900,000
Capitalized preacquisition costs	3,400,000	12,000,000
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities | Land Option Contracts	'	'
Variable Interest Entities and Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]	'	'
Refundable and non-refundable cash deposits	1,700,000	'
Remaining purchase price of cash deposits	$26,900,000	'

Other_Assets_Detail

Other Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Income tax receivable	$1,174	$2,199
Deferred tax asset	14,609	16,337
Investments	9,853	9,439
Property and equipment, net	4,352	4,103
Capitalized loan origination fees	10,413	11,089
Prepaid bank fees	117	152
Deposits in lieu of bonds and letters of credit	11,028	10,294
Prepaid insurance	5,456	2,460
Other	1,214	997
Total other assets, net	$58,216	$57,070

Other_Assets_Net_Additional_In

Other Assets, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Available for sale securities realized gains	$0	$0	$0	$0

Notes_Payable_Detail

Notes Payable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Notes payable	$761,740	$751,708
Senior Secured Notes	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Notes payable	750,000	750,000
Secured Revolving Credit Facility Matures March 1, 2016	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Notes payable	0	0
Secured Promissory Notes	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Notes payable	$11,740	$1,708

Notes_Payable_Parenthetical_De

Notes Payable (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	10-May-11
Senior Secured Notes	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Principal amount	$750	$750	$750
Interest rate	8.63%	8.63%	'
Maturity date	15-May-19	15-May-19	'
Secured Revolving Credit Facility Matures March 1, 2016	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Principal amount	$125	$125	'
Maturity date	1-Mar-16	1-Mar-16	'
Secured Revolving Credit Facility Matures March 1, 2016 | Eurocurrency Rate	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Spread on variable rate	2.75%	2.75%	'
Secured Promissory Notes	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Maturity year	'2016	'2016	'
Minimum | Secured Promissory Notes	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest rate	1.00%	1.00%	'
Maximum | Secured Promissory Notes	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest rate	6.00%	6.00%	'

Notes_Payable_Additional_Infor

Notes Payable - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

10-May-11

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jan. 14, 2014

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

10-May-11

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Senior Secured Notes

Eurocurrency Rate

Semi Annual Payment, First Payment

Semi Annual Payment, Second Payment

Redeem On Or After May 15, 2015

Redeem On Or After May 15, 2016

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest payment date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'May 15

'November 15

'

'

Maturity date

'

'

'

1-Mar-16

'

'

'

15-May-19

15-May-19

'

'

'

'

'

Note redemption price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$104.31

$102.16

Accrued interest

$24,299,000

$8,086,000

'

'

'

'

'

$24,300,000

$8,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount of debt issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

750,000,000

750,000,000

750,000,000

'

'

'

'

Letters of credit, borrowing capacity

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit facility, interest rate description

'

'

'

'

'The Revolver, which bears interest, at the Company's option, either at (i) a daily eurocurrency base rate as defined in the credit agreement governing the Revolver (the "Credit Agreement"), plus a margin of 2.75%, or (ii) a eurocurrency rate as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus a margin of 2.75%, and matures March 1, 2016.

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Spread on variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortizing period of term loan

'

'

'

'18 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit facility, amount outstanding

'

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other_Liabilities_Detail

Other Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Completed operations	$131,793	'	$138,610	'	'	'
Warranty reserves	21,092	20,838	20,648	19,061	18,521	17,749
Accrued profit and revenue participation arrangements	22,878	'	678	'	'	'
Deferred revenue/gain	23,471	'	29,358	'	'	'
Provisions for closed homes/communities	6,818	'	10,591	'	'	'
Deposits (primarily homebuyer)	19,446	'	14,281	'	'	'
Legal reserves	6,265	'	4,576	'	'	'
Accrued interest	24,299	'	8,086	'	'	'
Accrued compensation and benefits	18,964	'	9,389	'	'	'
Distributions payable	2,260	'	2,531	'	'	'
Deficit Distributions	3,486	'	351	'	'	'
Other	7,309	'	6,702	'	'	'
Total other liabilities	$288,081	'	$245,801	'	'	'

Other_Liabilities_Additional_I

Other Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2009

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2009

Vistancia, LLC

Vistancia, LLC

Vistancia, LLC

Minimum

Maximum

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

PIC

Other Liabilities [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operations claims standard warranty period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'1 year

'2 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Completed operations extended warranty period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Insurance receivables

$131,793,000

'

$131,793,000

'

$138,610,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of uncovered losses related to completed operations

12.50%

'

12.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred revenue on completed operation claims

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,200,000

'

16,200,000

'

18,900,000

19,200,000

4,300,000

'

4,300,000

'

7,800,000

15,600,000

Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction

4,001,000

1,758,000

6,175,000

1,599,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,100,000

200,000

2,700,000

800,000

'

'

1,900,000

1,500,000

3,500,000

800,000

'

'

Distribution payable to non-controlling interest

2,260,000

'

2,260,000

'

2,531,000

3,300,000

2,300,000

2,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Distributions payable

'

'

'

'

'

$100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Changes_in_Completed_Operation

Changes in Completed Operations Reserves (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Operations	Operations	Operations	Operations
Completed Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$131,793	$138,610	$137,418	$131,248	$138,610	$131,519
Reserves provided	'	'	3,308	1,718	9,012	4,786
Claims paid	'	'	-8,933	-5,948	-15,829	-9,287
Balance, end of the period	$131,793	$138,610	$131,793	$127,018	$131,793	$127,018

Changes_in_Warranty_Liabilitie

Changes in Warranty Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Warranty Liability [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$20,838	$18,521	$20,648	$17,749
Provision for warranties	3,100	2,804	9,042	7,190
Warranty costs paid	-2,846	-2,264	-8,598	-5,878
Balance, end of the period	$21,092	$19,061	$21,092	$19,061

Related_Party_Transactions_Det

Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Note receivable from JFSCI	$11,628	$21,588
Notes receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,036	1,037
Notes receivable from related parties	15,624	18,822
Reserves for note receivables from related parties	-12,898	-12,842
Receivables from related parties	3,762	3,745
Total receivables from related parties, net	$23,152	$32,350

Related_Party_Transactions_Add

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Jan. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

31-May-11

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Maximum

Northern California

Northern California

Northern California

Northern California

Southern California

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Non Interest Bearing

Non Interest Bearing

Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Affiliated Entity

Affiliated Entity

Affiliated Entity

Affiliated Entity

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

JFSCI

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Lot

Acquired an option to pay

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Other

Other

Other Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Other Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Other Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Other Real Property and Joint Venture Transactions

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

General and Administrative Related Party Transactions

General and Administrative Related Party Transactions

General and Administrative Related Party Transactions

General and Administrative Related Party Transactions

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Related Party Receivables and Payables

Lot

Entity

Entity

Minimum

Maximum

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible notes receivable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$38,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Bearing interest from notes receivable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.50%

2.50%

4.20%

4.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8.00%

12.00%

Receivable maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15-May-19

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Prepayment on notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,400,000

3,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note receivables from related parties

'

15,624,000

'

15,624,000

'

18,822,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,700,000

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11,600,000

21,600,000

'

'

'

'

5,000,000

1,000,000

'

'

Notes receivable, maturity year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2020

'

'

'

Internal rate of returns

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

17.50%

'

'

'

Reserves for notes receivable from other related parties

'

12,898,000

'

12,898,000

'

12,842,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12,900,000

12,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notes receivable, maturity periods

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'August 2016 through March 2019

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued interest monthly based on Prime less

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.75%

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Receivables from related parties

'

3,762,000

'

3,762,000

'

3,745,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,800,000

3,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payables to related parties

'

7,098,000

'

7,098,000

'

21,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,100,000

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Inventory

'

1,178,108,000

'

1,178,108,000

'

1,013,272,000

'

4,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net liabilities assumed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenue participation payments, gross revenues from home closing percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other liabilities

'

288,081,000

'

288,081,000

'

245,801,000

'

19,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Charges to equity

25,300,000

'

'

25,276,000

[1]

'

'

'

25,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Sale of land

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net sales proceeds recorded as an equity contribution

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition of land area

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70

'

262

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Land lots acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Description of additional lots to be acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Option to purchase 262 lots in seven phases through 2019,

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Remaining purchase price of cash deposits

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

18,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred gain on inventory purchased from unconsolidated joint venture

'

'

'

901,000

0

'

'

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of unconsolidated joint ventures

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11

10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

General and administrative expenses

'

16,433,000

14,097,000

47,957,000

40,132,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,700,000

2,000,000

7,000,000

5,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,000,000

6,900,000

19,800,000

17,900,000

'

'

'

'

Management fees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000

100,000

500,000

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Leases

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lease renewal option term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Related party rental expense

'

200,000

200,000

500,000

300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amounts paid to affiliates for insurance coverage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5,500,000

$5,100,000

$15,800,000

$12,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

[1]

In January 2014, the Company acquired property from a related party under common control for $4.4 million of cash, assumption of a $1.3 million net liability, and estimated future revenue participation payments of $19.6 million. The $25.3 million of consideration was recorded as a distribution to owners.

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009
						SHI	SHI	SHI	SHI	SHLP
									Maximum	Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax expense	$6,053,000	$1,281,000	$16,555,000	$1,701,000	'	$16,600,000	$1,700,000	'	'	'
Deferred tax asset, net	14,609,000	'	14,609,000	'	16,337,000	14,600,000	'	16,300,000	'	'
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance	'	'	'	'	'	500,000	'	'	'	'
Amount company could be obligated to pay	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	68,000,000	111,000,000
Initial Maximum CCM Payment	$70,000,000	'	$70,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Owners_Equity_Additional_Infor

Owners' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Series B Preferred Stock	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated undistributed preferred returns	$24.10	$22.70
Series B Preferred Stock | January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred return percentage earned on unreturned preferred capital	1.20%	'
Series B Preferred Stock | January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred return percentage earned on unreturned preferred capital	2.25%	'
Series B Preferred Stock | January 1, 2021 and thereafter	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate determination	2.05%	'
Series D Preferred Stock	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership interest	1.00%	'
Accumulated undistributed preferred returns	$59.40	$56.60
Series D Preferred Stock | January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred return percentage earned on unreturned preferred capital	2.00%	'
Series D Preferred Stock | January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred return percentage earned on unreturned preferred capital	12.75%	'
Series D Preferred Stock | January 1, 2021 and thereafter	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred return percentage earned on unreturned preferred capital	7.00%	'
Limited Partner	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership interest	78.38%	'
General Partner	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership interest	20.62%	'

Contingent_Liabilities_And_Com

Contingent Liabilities And Commitments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Water system connection rights purchase obligation	$30,506	$30,506
Total unrecorded contingent liabilities and commitments	240,984	230,925
Partner Notes Payable	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Guarantee obligations	37,756	28,684
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Exposure of surety bonds in connection with development of projects	22,700	22,800
Tax Court Member	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Guarantee obligations	70,000	70,000
Surety Bonds | Company	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Exposure of surety bonds in connection with development of projects	78,367	77,276
Surety Bonds | Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Exposure of surety bonds in connection with development of projects	22,744	22,845
Surety Bonds | Related Parties	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Exposure of surety bonds in connection with development of projects	$1,611	$1,614

Contingent_Liabilities_And_Com1

Contingent Liabilities And Commitments (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Guarantee obligations maximum exposure	$70	'
Tax Court Member	'	'
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Guarantee obligations maximum exposure	$70	$70

Contingencies_and_Commitments_1

Contingencies and Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

10-May-11

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Oct. 10, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Colorado

Colorado

Credit Support Agreement

Credit Support Agreement

Funding Arrangements

Funding Arrangements

Funding Arrangements

Funding Arrangements

Related Parties

Related Parties

Subsequent Event

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Homebuilding Operations

Homebuilding Operations

Colorado

Colorado

Colorado

Colorado

Home

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Legal reserves

'

$6,300,000

$4,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of homes with alleged construction defects

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

589

'

'

'

'

Letters of credit, borrowing capacity

'

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of credit, outstanding amount

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of credit, Outstanding capacity

62,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of credit, termination period

'2014-02

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exposure of surety bonds in connection with development of projects

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,600,000

1,600,000

'

22,700,000

22,800,000

78,400,000

77,300,000

Bonds issued for development of projects

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,900,000

4,900,000

'

63,200,000

63,700,000

170,600,000

169,700,000

Reimbursements

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,600,000

8,600,000

13,500,000

13,100,000

12,300,000

11,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Water system connection rights purchase obligation

'

$30,506,000

$30,506,000

'

$30,500,000

$30,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Supplemental_Disclosures_to_Co

Supplemental Disclosures to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information	'	'
Income taxes paid	$13,271	$66
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	436	3,235
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities	'	'
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net	334	252
Reclassification of Deficit Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures to other liabilities	-3,134	-339
Purchase of land in exchange for note payable	12,371	2,964
Deferred gain on inventory purchased from unconsolidated joint venture	901	0
Distribution to Owners for assumption of liability and revenue participation payments for land purchased from a related party under common control	-20,891	0
Contribution of inventory to unconsolidated joint venture	$8,981	$4,082

Financial_Information_for_Repo

Financial Information for Reportable Segments - Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	$1,603,645	$1,505,333
Homebuilding	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	1,415,241	1,240,416
Homebuilding | Southern California	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	352,121	316,339
Homebuilding | San Diego	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	169,876	160,593
Homebuilding | Northern California	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	328,010	286,513
Homebuilding | Mountain West	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	357,316	316,459
Homebuilding | South West	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	197,780	155,416
Homebuilding | East	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	10,138	5,096
Corporate	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	$188,404	$264,917

Financial_Information_for_Repo1

Financial Information for Reportable Segments - Inventory (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Jan. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Northern California

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Homebuilding

Southern California

Southern California

San Diego

San Diego

Northern California

Northern California

Mountain West

Mountain West

South West

South West

East

East

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Inventory

$1,178,108

$1,013,272

$4,400

$1,178,108

$1,013,272

$263,906

$239,986

$150,381

$142,395

$286,451

$249,111

$300,084

$247,294

$172,039

$132,484

$5,247

$2,002

Financial_Information_for_Repo2

Financial Information for Reportable Segments - Revenues (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$284,489	$238,309	$720,687	$590,579
Homebuilding	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	284,370	238,079	720,225	589,892
Homebuilding | Southern California	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	119,584	39,847	261,940	136,135
Homebuilding | San Diego	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	26,312	40,534	71,655	81,523
Homebuilding | Northern California	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	58,706	70,989	162,772	152,120
Homebuilding | Mountain West	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	40,845	46,961	100,973	109,150
Homebuilding | South West	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	38,923	37,471	122,885	105,157
Homebuilding | East	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	0	2,277	0	5,807
Corporate	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$119	$230	$462	$687

Financial_Information_Relating

Financial Information Relating to Reportable Segments - Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	$39,784	$27,107	$90,284	$53,896
Homebuilding	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	35,827	25,318	85,975	53,199
Homebuilding | Southern California	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	23,022	8,961	47,243	29,101
Homebuilding | San Diego	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	980	2,836	6,693	2,415
Homebuilding | Northern California	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,527	11,109	29,940	18,649
Homebuilding | Mountain West	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,577	1,316	-3	632
Homebuilding | South West	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,176	1,230	4,521	2,691
Homebuilding | East	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	-455	-134	-2,419	-289
Corporate	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes	$3,957	$1,789	$4,309	$697

Condensed_Consolidating_Balanc

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'		'		'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$139,282		$206,205		$143,198		$279,756
Restricted cash	494		1,189		'		'
Accounts and other receivables, net	145,957		147,499		'		'
Receivables from related parties, net	23,152		32,350		'		'
Inventory	1,178,108		1,013,272		'		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	58,436		47,748		'		'
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0		'		'
Other assets, net	58,216		57,070		'		'
Intercompany	0		0		'		'
Total assets	1,603,645		1,505,333		'		'
Liabilities:	'		'		'		'
Notes payable	761,740		751,708		'		'
Payables to related parties	7,098		21		'		'
Accounts payable	51,522		62,346		'		'
Other liabilities	288,081		245,801		'		'
Intercompany	0		0		'		'
Total liabilities	1,108,441		1,059,876		'		'
SHLP equity:	'		'		'		'
Owners' equity	489,691		440,268		'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,122		4,788		'		'
Total SHLP equity	494,813		445,056		'		'
Non-controlling interests	391		401		'		'
Total equity	495,204		445,457		371,694		319,247
Total liabilities and equity	1,603,645		1,505,333		'		'
SHLP Corp	'		'		'		'
Assets	'		'		'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	96,402	[1],[2]	153,794	[1],[3]	128,666	[4]	216,914	[4]
Restricted cash	294	[2]	695	[3]	'		'
Accounts and other receivables, net	119,247	[2]	120,299	[3]	'		'
Receivables from related parties, net	8,137	[2]	9,251	[3]	'		'
Inventory	961,983	[2]	749,832	[3]	'		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	28,053	[2]	22,068	[3]	'		'
Investments in subsidiaries	784,348	[2]	748,326	[3]	'		'
Other assets, net	27,706	[2]	24,030	[3]	'		'
Intercompany	0	[2]	0	[3]	'		'
Total assets	2,026,170	[2]	1,828,295	[3]	'		'
Liabilities:	'		'		'		'
Notes payable	761,740	[2]	751,708	[3]	'		'
Payables to related parties	20	[2]	20	[3]	'		'
Accounts payable	37,614	[2]	36,594	[3]	'		'
Other liabilities	197,977	[2]	171,470	[3]	'		'
Intercompany	534,006	[2]	423,447	[3]	'		'
Total liabilities	1,531,357	[2]	1,383,239	[3]	'		'
SHLP equity:	'		'		'		'
Owners' equity	489,691	[2]	440,268	[3]	'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,122	[2]	4,788	[3]	'		'
Total SHLP equity	494,813	[2]	445,056	[3]	'		'
Non-controlling interests	0	[2]	0	[3]	'		'
Total equity	494,813	[2]	445,056	[3]	'		'
Total liabilities and equity	2,026,170	[2]	1,828,295	[3]	'		'
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'		'		'
Assets	'		'		'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	34,078		43,803		5,214		48,895
Restricted cash	126		354		'		'
Accounts and other receivables, net	25,681		26,754		'		'
Receivables from related parties, net	11,817		22,027		'		'
Inventory	214,640		263,213		'		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	1,411		1,091		'		'
Investments in subsidiaries	75,496		69,755		'		'
Other assets, net	30,377		32,957		'		'
Intercompany	562,977		465,706		'		'
Total assets	956,603		925,660		'		'
Liabilities:	'		'		'		'
Notes payable	0		0		'		'
Payables to related parties	0		0		'		'
Accounts payable	13,607		25,334		'		'
Other liabilities	61,629		41,370		'		'
Intercompany	0		0		'		'
Total liabilities	75,236		66,704		'		'
SHLP equity:	'		'		'		'
Owners' equity	876,245		854,168		'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,122		4,788		'		'
Total SHLP equity	881,367		858,956		'		'
Non-controlling interests	0		0		'		'
Total equity	881,367		858,956		'		'
Total liabilities and equity	956,603		925,660		'		'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'		'		'
Assets	'		'		'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	8,802		8,608		9,318		13,947
Restricted cash	74		140		'		'
Accounts and other receivables, net	16,656		28,696		'		'
Receivables from related parties, net	3,198		796		'		'
Inventory	4,620		3,361		'		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	28,972		24,589		'		'
Investments in subsidiaries	87,381		90,484		'		'
Other assets, net	133		83		'		'
Intercompany	0		0		'		'
Total assets	149,836		156,757		'		'
Liabilities:	'		'		'		'
Notes payable	0		0		'		'
Payables to related parties	1		1		'		'
Accounts payable	301		418		'		'
Other liabilities	44,103		61,211		'		'
Intercompany	39,182		45,117		'		'
Total liabilities	83,587		106,747		'		'
SHLP equity:	'		'		'		'
Owners' equity	65,858		49,609		'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	0		0		'		'
Total SHLP equity	65,858		49,609		'		'
Non-controlling interests	391		401		'		'
Total equity	66,249		50,010		'		'
Total liabilities and equity	149,836		156,757		'		'
Consolidation, Eliminations	'		'		'		'
Assets	'		'		'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0		0
Restricted cash	0		0		'		'
Accounts and other receivables, net	-15,627		-28,250		'		'
Receivables from related parties, net	0		276		'		'
Inventory	-3,135		-3,134		'		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	0		0		'		'
Investments in subsidiaries	-947,225		-908,565		'		'
Other assets, net	0		0		'		'
Intercompany	-562,977		-465,706		'		'
Total assets	-1,528,964		-1,405,379		'		'
Liabilities:	'		'		'		'
Notes payable	0		0		'		'
Payables to related parties	7,077		0		'		'
Accounts payable	0		0		'		'
Other liabilities	-15,628		-28,250		'		'
Intercompany	-573,188		-468,564		'		'
Total liabilities	-581,739		-496,814		'		'
SHLP equity:	'		'		'		'
Owners' equity	-942,103		-903,777		'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income	-5,122		-4,788		'		'
Total SHLP equity	-947,225		-908,565		'		'
Non-controlling interests	0		0		'		'
Total equity	-947,225		-908,565		'		'
Total liabilities and equity	($1,528,964)		($1,405,379)		'		'
[1]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
[2]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at September 30, 2014 was not material.
[3]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at December 31, 2013 was not material.
[4]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.

Condensed_Consolidating_Statem

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenues	$284,489		$238,309		$720,687		$590,579
Cost of sales	-216,595		-182,461		-547,663		-454,769
Gross margin	67,894		55,848		173,024		135,810
Selling expenses	-15,482		-14,291		-41,836		-37,293
General and administrative expenses	-16,433		-14,097		-47,957		-40,132
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	288		-616		2,106		-770
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries	0		0		0		0
Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction	4,001		1,758		6,175		1,599
Interest expense	-160	[1]	-145	[1]	-436	[1]	-4,975	[1]
Other income (expense), net	-324		-1,350		-792		-343
Income before income taxes	39,784		27,107		90,284		53,896
Income tax benefit (expense)	-6,053		-1,281		-16,555		-1,701
Net income	33,731		25,826		73,729		52,195
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	18		-2		25		1
Net income attributable to SHLP	33,749		25,824		73,754		52,196
Comprehensive income	33,752		25,841		74,063		52,447
SHLP Corp	'		'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenues	171,807	[2]	131,052	[3]	398,559	[2]	332,157	[4]
Cost of sales	-136,363	[2]	-106,661	[3]	-318,844	[2]	-271,041	[4]
Gross margin	35,444	[2]	24,391	[3]	79,715	[2]	61,116	[4]
Selling expenses	-9,685	[2]	-7,787	[3]	-24,111	[2]	-20,519	[4]
General and administrative expenses	-11,388	[2]	-8,427	[3]	-33,697	[2]	-24,747	[4]
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	-237	[2]	-579	[3]	-895	[2]	-1,219	[4]
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries	21,246	[2]	20,256	[3]	58,259	[2]	44,761	[4]
Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[2]	0	[4]
Interest expense	-160	[2]	-130	[3]	-436	[2]	-3,562	[4]
Other income (expense), net	-1,472	[2]	-1,900	[3]	-5,078	[2]	-3,631	[4]
Income before income taxes	33,748	[2]	25,824	[3]	73,757	[2]	52,199	[4]
Income tax benefit (expense)	1	[2]	0	[3]	-3	[2]	-3	[4]
Net income	33,749	[2]	25,824	[3]	73,754	[2]	52,196	[4]
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[2]	0	[4]
Net income attributable to SHLP	33,749	[2]	25,824	[3]	73,754	[2]	52,196	[4]
Comprehensive income	33,770	[2]	25,839	[3]	74,088	[2]	52,448	[4]
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenues	108,491		102,989		309,776		242,345
Cost of sales	-79,919		-75,615		-227,757		-183,072
Gross margin	28,572		27,374		82,019		59,273
Selling expenses	-4,163		-5,081		-12,298		-12,305
General and administrative expenses	-4,292		-5,056		-12,080		-13,285
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	76		10		102		-12
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries	3,645		908		5,230		-286
Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		-15		0		-1,413
Other income (expense), net	1,167		797		4,373		2,765
Income before income taxes	25,005		18,937		67,346		34,737
Income tax benefit (expense)	-6,052		-1,282		-16,531		-1,687
Net income	18,953		17,655		50,815		33,050
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income attributable to SHLP	18,953		17,655		50,815		33,050
Comprehensive income	18,974		17,670		51,149		33,302
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenues	4,191		4,268		12,352		16,077
Cost of sales	-313		-313		-1,062		-1,022
Gross margin	3,878		3,955		11,290		15,055
Selling expenses	-1,634		-1,423		-5,427		-4,469
General and administrative expenses	-753		-614		-2,180		-2,100
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	449		-47		2,899		461
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries	11		-822		39		-2,154
Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction	4,001		1,758		6,175		1,599
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Other income (expense), net	-19		-119		-87		889
Income before income taxes	5,933		2,688		12,709		9,281
Income tax benefit (expense)	-2		1		-21		-11
Net income	5,931		2,689		12,688		9,270
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	18		-2		25		1
Net income attributable to SHLP	5,949		2,687		12,713		9,271
Comprehensive income	5,931		2,689		12,688		9,270
Consolidation, Eliminations	'		'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenues	0		0		0		0
Cost of sales	0		128		0		366
Gross margin	0		128		0		366
Selling expenses	0		0		0		0
General and administrative expenses	0		0		0		0
Equity in income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures, net	0		0		0		0
Equity in income (loss) from subsidiaries	-24,902		-20,342		-63,528		-42,321
Gain (loss) on reinsurance transaction	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Other income (expense), net	0		-128		0		-366
Income before income taxes	-24,902		-20,342		-63,528		-42,321
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net income	-24,902		-20,342		-63,528		-42,321
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income attributable to SHLP	-24,902		-20,342		-63,528		-42,321
Comprehensive income	($24,923)		($20,357)		($63,862)		($42,573)
[1]	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, qualifying assets exceeded debt, therefore no interest on the Secured Notes (see Note 10) was expensed; interest expense represents fees charged on the unused revolving credit facility that is not considered a cost of borrowing and is not capitalized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, assets qualifying for interest capitalization were less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.
[2]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
[3]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.
[4]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013

Condensed_Consolidating_Statem1

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Operating activities	'		'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	($68,122)		($124,449)
Investing activities	'		'
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	13,306		4,207
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	-11,528		-20,138
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	9,102		3,822
Other investing activities	-4,091		10,022
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,963		-10,116
Financing activities	'		'
Intercompany	0		0
Distributions to owners	-4,385		0
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	-2,339		-1,993
Contributions from owners	945		0
Other financing activities	-2,324		'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-5,764		-1,993
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-66,923		-136,558
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	206,205		279,756
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	139,282		143,198
SHLP Corp	'		'
Operating activities	'		'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-159,931	[1]	-116,651	[2]
Investing activities	'		'
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	3,256	[1]	'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	-4,172	[1]	-8,342	[2]
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	[1]	'
Other investing activities	-1,663	[1]	317	[2]
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-2,579	[1]	-8,025	[2]
Financing activities	'		'
Intercompany	110,897	[1]	38,421	[2]
Distributions to owners	-4,385	[1]	'
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	'		-1,993	[2]
Contributions from owners	945	[1]	'
Other financing activities	-2,339	[1]	'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	105,118	[1]	36,428	[2]
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-57,392	[1]	-88,248	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	153,794	[1],[3]	216,914	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	96,402	[1],[4]	128,666	[2]
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'
Operating activities	'		'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	85,946		-22,609
Investing activities	'		'
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	10,050		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	-99		-194
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	34		'
Other investing activities	-13		6,273
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	10,146		6,079
Financing activities	'		'
Intercompany	-105,817		-27,151
Distributions to owners	0		'
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	'		0
Contributions from owners	0		'
Other financing activities	0		'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-105,817		-27,151
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-9,725		-43,681
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	43,803		48,895
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	34,078		5,214
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'		'
Operating activities	'		'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-1,490		10,063
Investing activities	'		'
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	0		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	-7,257		-11,602
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	9,068		'
Other investing activities	-2,415		3,432
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-604		-8,170
Financing activities	'		'
Intercompany	2,273		-6,522
Distributions to owners	0		'
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	'		0
Contributions from owners	0		'
Other financing activities	15		'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,288		-6,522
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	194		-4,629
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,608		13,947
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	8,802		9,318
Consolidation, Eliminations	'		'
Operating activities	'		'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,353		4,748
Investing activities	'		'
Collections on promissory notes from related parties	0		'
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	0		0
Other investing activities	0		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0		0
Financing activities	'		'
Intercompany	-7,353		-4,748
Distributions to owners	0		'
Principal payments to financial institutions and others	'		0
Contributions from owners	0		'
Other financing activities	0		'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-7,353		-4,748
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$0		$0
[1]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2014.
[2]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2013.
[3]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at December 31, 2013 was not material.
[4]	Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp., whose financial position at September 30, 2014 was not material.