CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Predecessor [Member]
Revenues:
Student housing rental	$ 10,452	$ 79,861	$ 57,269	$ 39,169
Student housing services	334	3,223	2,440	1,567
Development, construction and management services	74	54,295	35,084	35,687
Total revenues	10,860	137,379	94,793	76,423
Operating expenses:
Student Housing Operations:	5,371	37,793	28,169	22,219
Development, construction and management services	0	50,493	31,051	33,449
General and administrative	1,176	8,845	6,856	5,589
Ground leases	42	217	209	214
Write-off of predevelopment costs	0	0	0	537
Depreciation and amortization	3,961	23,837	20,090	14,886
Total operating expenses	10,550	121,185	86,375	76,894
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated entities	(163)	361	(1,164)	(259)
Operating income (loss)	147	16,555	7,254	(730)
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest expense	(2,519)	(11,545)	(6,888)	(20,836)
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives	146	(216)	259	871
Other income (expense)	44	(194)	461	43
Gain on purchase of previously unconsolidated entities	577	6,554	3,159	0
Total nonoperating expense, net	(1,752)	(5,401)	(3,009)	(19,922)
Net income (loss) before income tax expense	(1,605)	11,154	4,245	(20,652)
Income tax expense	0	(356)	(464)	0
Net income (loss)	(1,605)	10,798	3,781	(20,652)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	46	51	(7,479)
Dividends on preferred stock	0	4,114	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(1,591)	6,638	3,730	(13,173)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted:	$ (0.05)	$ 0.19	$ 0.12
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	29,877	34,781	30,717
Diluted	29,877	35,217	31,153
Distributions per common share	$ 0.127	$ 0.64	$ 0.64
Consolidated and combined statements of comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	(1,605)	10,798	3,781	(20,652)
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives	(172)	332	(215)	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(1,777)	11,130	3,566	(20,652)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	46	51	(7,479)
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	3	0	0
Dividends on preferred stock	0	4,114	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ (1,763)	$ 6,967	$ 3,515	$ (13,173)