Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$ 39,636	$ 62,244
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	42,675	42,596
Amortization of deferred financing costs	882	1,265
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(1,475)	(36,902)
Other, net	495	205
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(965)	(986)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,055	1,082
Stock-based compensation	2,631	1,939
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	197	4,287
Changes in assets, decrease (increase) in:
Other assets	(1,073)	(1,472)
Changes in liabilities, increase (decrease) in:
Accrued interest payable	(226)	(588)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,489	5,866
Prepaid rents and other	554	(1,814)
Net cash provided by operating activities	87,875	77,722
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(46,326)	(34,440)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	4,529	73,264
Capitalized interest	(2,219)	(1,601)
Property capital expenditures	(12,309)	(14,272)
Corporate additions and improvements	(542)	(1,687)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(220)	0
Other investing activities	(313)	(458)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(57,400)	20,806
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds	0	80,213
Lines of credit repayments	0	(80,213)
Payments on indebtedness	(1,455)	(121,974)
Payments of financing costs and other	(4,008)	(4,291)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	345	2,278
Acquisition of treasury stock and other	(1,389)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-real estate entities	0	(68)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-common unitholders	(96)	(93)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(43,641)	(37,445)
Other financing activities	158	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(51,930)	(163,437)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(21,455)	(64,909)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,512	82,110
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	119,057	17,201
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	39,636	62,244
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	42,675	42,596
Amortization of deferred financing costs	882	1,265
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(1,475)	(36,902)
Other, net	495	205
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(965)	(986)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,055	1,082
Stock-based compensation	2,631	1,939
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	197	4,287
Changes in assets, decrease (increase) in:
Other assets	(1,073)	(1,472)
Changes in liabilities, increase (decrease) in:
Accrued interest payable	(226)	(588)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,489	5,866
Prepaid rents and other	554	(1,814)
Net cash provided by operating activities	87,875	77,722
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(46,326)	(34,440)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	4,529	73,264
Capitalized interest	(2,219)	(1,601)
Property capital expenditures	(12,309)	(14,272)
Corporate additions and improvements	(542)	(1,687)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(220)	0
Other investing activities	(313)	(458)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(57,400)	20,806
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds	0	80,213
Lines of credit repayments	0	(80,213)
Payments on indebtedness	(1,455)	(121,974)
Payments of financing costs and other	(4,008)	(4,291)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	345	2,278
Acquisition of treasury stock and other	(1,389)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-real estate entities	0	(68)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-common unitholders	(96)	(93)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(43,641)	(37,445)
Other financing activities	158	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(51,930)	(163,437)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(21,455)	(64,909)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,512	82,110
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 119,057	$ 17,201