Real Estate Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties	Jun. 30, 2012 Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Jun. 30, 2012 Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Rentable square feet of acquisition (in sq. ft)						178,300							178,300
Acquisition purchase price						$ 26,000,000							$ 26,000,000
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of rental residential units					96							96
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate					11,000,000		9,500,000					11,000,000		9,500,000
Gains on disposition of discontinued operations	$ 1,385,000	$ 0	$ 6,519,000	$ 0	$ 5,100,000		$ 1,400,000	$ 1,385,000	$ 0	$ 6,519,000	$ 0	$ 5,100,000		$ 1,400,000