Total increases or decreases in the condominium warranty and related obligations for the period.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	pps_
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- Definition

Percentage ownership in consolidated joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pps_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties during the reporting period net of the applicable income taxes realized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 974

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-15.(a)(1)(ii))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6875705&loc=d3e641549-123027

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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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

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of formerly productive land held for sale, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it, and so forth.

+ References

Reference 1: 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=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Real Estate Activity (Dispositions) - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) Apartment	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) Apartment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Agreement Property	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) Apartment	Mar. 31, 2014 Apartment
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties \| Property					60
Number of units in real estate property \| Agreement					23,723
Gains on sales of real estate assets, net				$ 152,785	$ 1,475	$ 189,687
Apartment Communities Sold [Member] \| New York [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties \| Apartment							2
Number of units in real estate property \| Apartment							337
Apartment Communities Sold [Member] \| Houston, Texas [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties \| Apartment							1
Number of units in real estate property \| Apartment							308
Apartment community sold approximately for gross proceeds		$ 71,750
Gains on sales of real estate assets, net			$ 36,092		(298)
For-Sale Condominium Homes [Member] \| Atlanta Condominium Project [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Gains on sales of real estate assets, net				$ 1,862		$ 1,052
Reduction to condominium warranty and related obligation					(771)
For-Sale Condominium Homes [Member] \| Austin Condominium Project [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Gains on sales of real estate assets, net					$ 1,773
Assets Held-for-Sale [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property \| Apartment							645
Assets Held-for-Sale [Member] \| Apartment Communities Sold [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties \| Apartment							3
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| Apartment Communities Sold [Member] \| New York [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties \| Apartment	2			2		2
Apartment community sold approximately for gross proceeds	$ 270,000
Net gain on sale of apartment community				$ 151,733
One of these communities was held in a consolidated joint venture with Company ownership	68.00%			68.00%		68.00%
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| Apartment Communities Sold [Member] \| New York [Member] \| Total Company Equity [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Net gain on sale of apartment community				$ 127,659