Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Rental	$ 286,518	$ 268,090	$ 260,048
Other property revenues	17,880	16,053	15,203
Other	918	995	1,072
Total revenues	305,316	285,138	276,323
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	132,410	131,378	131,658
Depreciation	75,263	74,497	74,442
General and administrative	16,100	16,443	16,296
Investment and development	1,161	2,415	4,114
Other investment costs	1,435	2,417	2,107
Impairment, severance and other costs		35,091	13,507
Total expenses	226,369	262,241	242,124
Operating income	78,947	22,897	34,199
Interest income	1,021	841	245
Interest expense	(56,791)	(54,613)	(52,377)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(2,797)	(2,987)	(3,079)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	10,514	6,161	3,481
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	1,001	18,739	(74,447)
Other income (expense), net	619	(874)	(432)
Net gain (loss) on extinguishment of indebtedness	(6,919)	2,845	(3,317)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	25,595	(6,991)	(95,727)
Discontinued operations
Income from discontinued property operations			4,872
Gains on sales of real estate assets			79,366
Income from discontinued operations			84,238
Net income (loss)	25,595	(6,991)	(11,489)
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(67)	(20)	8,218
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	(62)	51	48
Net income (loss) available to the Company	25,466	(6,960)	(3,223)
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(4,455)	(7,503)	(7,637)
Preferred stock redemption costs	(1,757)	(44)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	19,254	(14,507)	(10,860)
Per common share data - Basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations (net of preferred dividends and redemption costs)	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (2.10)
Income from discontinued operations			$ 1.86
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (0.24)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	50,420	48,483	45,179
Per common share data - Diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations (net of preferred dividends and redemption costs)	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (2.10)
Income from discontinued operations			$ 1.86
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (0.24)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	50,808	48,483	45,179
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rental	286,518	268,090	260,048
Other property revenues	17,880	16,053	15,203
Other	918	995	1,072
Total revenues	305,316	285,138	276,323
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	132,410	131,378	131,658
Depreciation	75,263	74,497	74,442
General and administrative	16,100	16,443	16,296
Investment and development	1,161	2,415	4,114
Other investment costs	1,435	2,417	2,107
Impairment, severance and other costs		35,091	13,507
Total expenses	226,369	262,241	242,124
Operating income	78,947	22,897	34,199
Interest income	1,021	841	245
Interest expense	(56,791)	(54,613)	(52,377)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(2,797)	(2,987)	(3,079)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	10,514	6,161	3,481
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	1,001	18,739	(74,447)
Other income (expense), net	619	(874)	(432)
Net gain (loss) on extinguishment of indebtedness	(6,919)	2,845	(3,317)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	25,595	(6,991)	(95,727)
Discontinued operations
Income from discontinued property operations			4,872
Gains on sales of real estate assets			79,366
Income from discontinued operations			84,238
Net income (loss)	25,595	(6,991)	(11,489)
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(67)	(20)	8,218
Net income (loss) available to the Company	25,528	(7,011)	(3,271)
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(4,455)	(7,503)	(7,637)
Preferred stock redemption costs	(1,757)	(44)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 19,316	$ (14,558)	$ (10,908)
Per common share data - Basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations (net of preferred dividends and redemption costs)	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (2.10)
Income from discontinued operations			$ 1.86
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (0.24)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	50,584	48,655	45,382
Per common share data - Diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations (net of preferred dividends and redemption costs)	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (2.10)
Income from discontinued operations			$ 1.86
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ (0.30)	$ (0.24)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	50,972	48,655	45,382