Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$ 59,826	$ 218,679
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	64,748	63,614
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,314	1,853
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(1,475)	(189,687)
Other, net	645	148
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(1,568)	(1,408)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,503	1,542
Stock-based compensation	3,646	2,957
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	197	18,357
Other assets	(1,675)	1,325
Accrued interest payable	3,664	2,903
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,483	9,762
Prepaid rents and other	1,338	290
Net cash provided by operating activities	133,646	130,335
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(84,125)	(51,059)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	4,529	331,578
Capitalized interest	(3,328)	(2,345)
Property capital expenditures	(22,667)	(22,034)
Corporate additions and improvements	(942)	(3,600)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(669)	(276)
Other investing activities	(246)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(107,448)	252,264
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds		90,463
Lines of credit repayments		(90,463)
Payments on indebtedness	(2,167)	(205,564)
Payments of financing costs and other	(4,008)	(17,322)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	920	3,143
Acquisition of treasury stock and other	(28,101)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - real estate entities		(22,338)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - common unitholders	(149)	(147)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(67,662)	(59,195)
Other financing activities	182
Net cash used in financing activities	(103,751)	(304,189)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(77,553)	78,410
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,512	82,110
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	62,959	160,520
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	59,826	218,679
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	64,748	63,614
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,314	1,853
Net gains on sales of real estate assets	(1,475)	(189,687)
Other, net	645	148
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	(1,568)	(1,408)
Distributions of earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,503	1,542
Stock-based compensation	3,646	2,957
Net loss on extinguishment of indebtedness	197	18,357
Other assets	(1,675)	1,325
Accrued interest payable	3,664	2,903
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,483	9,762
Prepaid rents and other	1,338	290
Net cash provided by operating activities	133,646	130,335
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Development and construction of real estate assets	(84,125)	(51,059)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	4,529	331,578
Capitalized interest	(3,328)	(2,345)
Property capital expenditures	(22,667)	(22,034)
Corporate additions and improvements	(942)	(3,600)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(669)	(276)
Other investing activities	(246)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(107,448)	252,264
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Lines of credit proceeds		90,463
Lines of credit repayments		(90,463)
Payments on indebtedness	(2,167)	(205,564)
Payments of financing costs and other	(4,008)	(17,322)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and stock options plans	920	3,143
Acquisition of treasury stock and other	(28,101)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - real estate entities		(22,338)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - common unitholders	(149)	(147)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(67,662)	(59,195)
Other financing activities	182
Net cash used in financing activities	(103,751)	(304,189)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(77,553)	78,410
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,512	82,110
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 62,959	$ 160,520