Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Land	$ 299,720,000	$ 285,005,000
Building and improvements	2,085,929,000	2,028,580,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	251,663,000	240,614,000
Construction in progress	94,981,000	25,734,000
Land held for future development	55,396,000	72,697,000
Real estate investment property, at cost, total	2,787,689,000	2,652,630,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(767,017,000)	(692,514,000)
For-sale condominiums	54,845,000	82,259,000
Total real estate assets	2,075,517,000	2,042,375,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated real estate entities	7,344,000	7,671,000
Cash and cash equivalents	13,084,000	22,089,000
Restricted cash	5,126,000	5,134,000
Deferred financing costs, net	6,381,000	5,670,000
Other assets	31,612,000	31,840,000
Total assets	2,139,064,000	2,114,779,000
Liabilities and equity
Indebtedness	970,443,000	1,033,249,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	72,102,000	66,977,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	15,945,000	15,384,000
Dividends and distributions payable	11,692,000	9,814,000
Accrued interest payable	5,185,000	5,841,000
Security deposits and prepaid rents	9,334,000	10,027,000
Total liabilities	1,084,701,000	1,141,292,000
Redeembable common units	6,840,000	6,192,000
Commitments and contingencies
Company shareholders' equity
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000 authorized: 53,002 and 48,926 shares issued and 52,988 and 48,913 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	530,000	489,000
Additional paid-in-capital	1,053,612,000	965,691,000
Accumulated earnings		4,577,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,633,000)
Stockholders equity subtotal before treasury stock, total	1,051,518,000	970,786,000
Less common stock in treasury, at cost, 113 and 108 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(4,000,000)	(3,696,000)
Total Company shareholders' equity	1,047,518,000	967,090,000
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated property partnerships	5,000	205,000
Total equity	1,047,523,000	967,295,000
Total liabilities and equity	2,139,064,000	2,114,779,000
8-1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Shares [Member]
Company shareholders' equity
Preferred stock	9,000	9,000
7-5/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Shares [Member]
Company shareholders' equity
Preferred stock		20,000
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Assets
Land	299,720,000	285,005,000
Building and improvements	2,085,929,000	2,028,580,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	251,663,000	240,614,000
Construction in progress	94,981,000	25,734,000
Land held for future development	55,396,000	72,697,000
Real estate investment property, at cost, total	2,787,689,000	2,652,630,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(767,017,000)	(692,514,000)
For-sale condominiums	54,845,000	82,259,000
Total real estate assets	2,075,517,000	2,042,375,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated real estate entities	7,344,000	7,671,000
Cash and cash equivalents	13,084,000	22,089,000
Restricted cash	5,126,000	5,134,000
Deferred financing costs, net	6,381,000	5,670,000
Other assets	31,612,000	31,840,000
Total assets	2,139,064,000	2,114,779,000
Liabilities and equity
Indebtedness	970,443,000	1,033,249,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	72,102,000	66,977,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	15,945,000	15,384,000
Dividends and distributions payable	11,692,000	9,814,000
Accrued interest payable	5,185,000	5,841,000
Security deposits and prepaid rents	9,334,000	10,027,000
Total liabilities	1,084,701,000	1,141,292,000
Redeembable common units	6,840,000	6,192,000
Commitments and contingencies
Company shareholders' equity
Preferred stock	43,392,000	92,963,000
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000 authorized: 53,002 and 48,926 shares issued and 52,988 and 48,913 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,633,000)
General partner	11,662,000	10,354,000
Limited partner	995,097,000	863,773,000
Total Company shareholders' equity	1,047,518,000	967,090,000
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated property partnerships	5,000	205,000
Total equity	1,047,523,000	967,295,000
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,139,064,000	$ 2,114,779,000