Aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of a business made during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	pps_AcquisitionPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	pps_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to in place lease intangible assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pps_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableInPlaceLeaseIntangibles
Namespace Prefix:	pps_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of condominium homes sold during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pps_CondominiumHomesSold
Namespace Prefix:	pps_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to land included in real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationLand
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to other assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationOtherAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to property, plant and equipment to be used in ongoing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 37

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate owned for investment purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph d

-Article 9

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph g

-Chapter V

-Subsection II

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cost of real estate projects incurred for projects for eventual sale or transfer (condominium or time share projects, vacation clubs).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryRealEstateConstructionInProcess
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of land held for use; excludes sales of land held as inventory or investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfLandHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Real Estate Activities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Home Property Apartment	Dec. 31, 2011 Home	Dec. 31, 2010 Home
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property	22,218
Number of communities in apartment units	60
Proceeds from sale of land			$ 8,888
Aggregate carrying value of condominium units	23,281	54,845
Condominium homes sold	96	58	66
Net gains on condominium sales activities	36,273	10,514	6,161
Post South End [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property	360
Square feet of retail space	7,612
Purchase price	74,000
Purchase price allocation, land	7,732
Purchase price allocation, building, improvements and equipment	65,521
Purchase price allocation, other assets	296
Purchase price allocation, identified lease related intangible assets	451
Land Parcels Sold [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of communities in apartment units			2
Austin Condominium Project [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property	148
Aggregate carrying value of condominium units	14,433
Net gains on condominium sales activities		977
Atlanta Condominium Project [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property	129
Aggregate carrying value of condominium units	8,848
For-Sale Condominium Homes [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of communities in apartment units	2
Condominium Conversion Communities [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of communities in apartment units	2
Post Katy Trail [Member] \| Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property		227
Square feet of retail space		9,080
Purchase price		48,500
Purchase price allocation, land		7,324
Purchase price allocation, building, improvements and equipment		39,531
Purchase price allocation, other assets		881
Purchase price allocation, identified lease related intangible assets		$ 764