Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$ 218,679	$ 67,057
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	63,614	64,221
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,853	1,915
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(189,687)	(27,468)
Other, net	148	930
Impairment charges	0	400
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(1,408)	(1,611)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,542	2,064
Stock-based compensation	2,957	2,722
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	18,357	0
Changes in assets, decrease (increase) in:
Other assets	1,325	(612)
Changes in liabilities, increase (decrease) in:
Accrued interest payable	2,903	3,192
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	9,762	3,989
Security deposits and prepaid rents	290	242
Net cash provided by operating activities	130,335	117,041
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(51,059)	(101,176)
Acquisition of communities	0	(48,399)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	331,578	70,173
Capitalized interest	(2,345)	(3,122)
Property capital expenditures	(22,034)	(26,081)
Corporate additions and improvements	(3,600)	(1,225)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(276)	0
Other investments	0	806
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	252,264	(109,024)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds	90,463	0
Lines of credit repayments	(90,463)	0
Payments on indebtedness	(205,564)	(2,766)
Payments of financing costs and other	(17,322)	(292)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	3,143	2,615
Acquisition of treasury stock	0	(20,064)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - real estate entities	(22,338)	(173)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - common unitholders	(147)	(120)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(59,195)	(45,282)
Net cash used in financing activities	(304,189)	(68,848)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	78,410	(60,831)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	82,110	118,698
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	160,520	57,867
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	218,679	67,057
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	63,614	64,221
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,853	1,915
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(189,687)	(27,468)
Other, net	148	930
Impairment charges	0	400
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(1,408)	(1,611)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,542	2,064
Stock-based compensation	2,957	2,722
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	18,357	0
Changes in assets, decrease (increase) in:
Other assets	1,325	(612)
Changes in liabilities, increase (decrease) in:
Accrued interest payable	2,903	3,192
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	9,762	3,989
Security deposits and prepaid rents	290	242
Net cash provided by operating activities	130,335	117,041
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(51,059)	(101,176)
Acquisition of communities	0	(48,399)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	331,578	70,173
Capitalized interest	(2,345)	(3,122)
Property capital expenditures	(22,034)	(26,081)
Corporate additions and improvements	(3,600)	(1,225)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(276)	0
Other investments	0	806
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	252,264	(109,024)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds	90,463	0
Lines of credit repayments	(90,463)	0
Payments on indebtedness	(205,564)	(2,766)
Payments of financing costs and other	(17,322)	(292)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	3,143	2,615
Acquisition of treasury stock	0	(20,064)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - real estate entities	(22,338)	(173)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - common unitholders	(147)	(120)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(59,195)	(45,282)
Net cash used in financing activities	(304,189)	(68,848)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	78,410	(60,831)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	82,110	118,698
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 160,520	$ 57,867