Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues
Rental	$ 75,655	$ 69,093
Other property revenues	4,399	4,222
Other	222	216
Total revenues	80,276	73,531
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	34,637	32,617
Depreciation	19,341	18,752
General and administrative	4,285	4,116
Investment and development	480	478
Other investment costs	306	494
Total expenses	59,049	56,457
Operating income	21,227	17,074
Interest income	51	92
Interest expense	(11,645)	(14,475)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(661)	(647)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	6,904	744
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	6,446	209
Other income (expense), net	(156)	16
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	(301)
Net income	21,865	3,013
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(6)	11
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	(59)	1
Net income available to the Company	21,800	3,025
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(1,689)
Preferred stock redemption costs		(1,757)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	20,878	(421)
Per common share data - Basic
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	53,087	49,041
Per common share data - Diluted
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	53,493	49,041
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rental	75,655	69,093
Other property revenues	4,399	4,222
Other	222	216
Total revenues	80,276	73,531
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	34,637	32,617
Depreciation	19,341	18,752
General and administrative	4,285	4,116
Investment and development	480	478
Other investment costs	306	494
Total expenses	59,049	56,457
Operating income	21,227	17,074
Interest income	51	92
Interest expense	(11,645)	(14,475)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(661)	(647)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	6,904	744
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	6,446	209
Other income (expense), net	(156)	16
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	(301)
Net income	21,865	3,013
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(6)	11
Net income available to the Company	21,859	3,024
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(1,689)
Preferred stock redemption costs		(1,757)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 20,937	$ (422)
Per common share data - Basic
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	53,239	49,212
Per common share data - Diluted
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	53,645	49,212