Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues
Rental	$ 81,069	$ 73,607	$ 233,805	$ 213,199
Other property revenues	5,096	4,762	14,368	13,682
Other	209	243	637	686
Total revenues	86,374	78,612	248,810	227,567
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	37,341	34,618	107,209	100,441
Depreciation	20,334	18,823	59,172	56,383
General and administrative	3,763	3,970	11,931	12,332
Investment and development	203	239	1,005	1,013
Other investment costs	547	329	1,159	1,278
Total expenses	62,188	57,979	180,476	171,447
Operating income	24,186	20,633	68,334	56,120
Interest income	20	374	359	982
Interest expense	(11,816)	(14,207)	(34,564)	(43,119)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(667)	(717)	(2,026)	(2,085)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	10,261	2,581	25,695	8,757
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	475	235	7,416	790
Other income (expense), net	(137)	(71)	444	230
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness			(301)
Net income	22,322	8,828	65,357	21,675
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(55)	(9)	(96)	(56)
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	(60)	(25)	(175)	(54)
Net income (loss)	22,207	8,794	65,086	21,565
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(922)	(922)	(2,766)	(3,533)
Preferred stock redemption costs				(1,757)
Net income available to common shareholders	21,285	7,872	62,320	16,275
Per common share data - Basic
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.16	$ 0.33
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	54,115	50,651	53,661	49,862
Per common share data - Diluted
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.15	$ 0.32
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	54,392	51,053	54,001	50,259
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rental	81,069	73,607	233,805	213,199
Other property revenues	5,096	4,762	14,368	13,682
Other	209	243	637	686
Total revenues	86,374	78,612	248,810	227,567
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)	37,341	34,618	107,209	100,441
Depreciation	20,334	18,823	59,172	56,383
General and administrative	3,763	3,970	11,931	12,332
Investment and development	203	239	1,005	1,013
Other investment costs	547	329	1,159	1,278
Total expenses	62,188	57,979	180,476	171,447
Operating income	24,186	20,633	68,334	56,120
Interest income	20	374	359	982
Interest expense	(11,816)	(14,207)	(34,564)	(43,119)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(667)	(717)	(2,026)	(2,085)
Net gains on condominium sales activities	10,261	2,581	25,695	8,757
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, net	475	235	7,416	790
Other income (expense), net	(137)	(71)	444	230
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness			(301)
Net income	22,322	8,828	65,357	21,675
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(55)	(9)	(96)	(56)
Net income (loss)	22,267	8,819	65,261	21,619
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(922)	(922)	(2,766)	(3,533)
Preferred stock redemption costs				(1,757)
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 21,345	$ 7,897	$ 62,495	$ 16,329
Per common share data - Basic
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.16	$ 0.33
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	54,259	50,813	53,809	50,029
Per common share data - Diluted
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.15	$ 0.32
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	54,536	51,215	54,149	50,426