Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010 Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Student Housing Operations [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Student Housing Operations [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Student Housing Operations [Member] Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Student Housing Operations [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Development Construction and Management Services [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Development Construction and Management Services [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Development Construction and Management Services [Member] Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Development Construction and Management Services [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Reconciliations [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Reconciliations [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Reconciliations [Member] Successor [Member]	Oct. 18, 2010 Reconciliations [Member] Predecessor [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers		$ 34,627	$ 34,486	$ 35,389	$ 32,877	$ 25,632	$ 20,396	$ 24,890	$ 23,874			$ 10,860		$ 137,379	$ 94,793	$ 76,423		$ 10,786	$ 83,084	$ 59,709	$ 40,736	$ 74	$ 54,295	$ 35,084	$ 35,687
Total segment revenues																						627	132,232	123,527	42,500	11,413	215,316	183,236	83,236
Intersegment revenues																						553	77,937	88,443	6,813	(553)	(77,937)	(88,443)	(6,813)
Total consolidated and combined revenues												74		54,295	35,084	35,687										10,860	137,379	94,793	76,423
Operating expenses												10,550		121,185	86,375	76,894		9,312	61,804	48,442	38,455	1,731	128,291	115,629	38,585
Operating income (loss)		5,618	5,250	2,985	2,702	3,672	2,254	600	729			147		16,555	7,254	(730)		1,474	21,280	11,267	2,281	(1,104)	3,941	7,898	3,915
Nonoperating expenses												(1,752)		(5,401)	(3,009)	(19,922)		(1,982)	(10,246)	(5,176)	(13,104)	(1)	(12)	(499)	(31)
Net income (loss)		2,268	9,050	460	(980)	4,483	414	(641)	(474)			(1,605)		10,798	3,781	(20,652)		(508)	11,034	6,091	(10,823)	(1,105)	3,929	7,399	3,884	(1,605)	10,798	3,781	(20,652)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0									(46)	(51)	(14)		46	51	(7,479)		(5)	106	61	(7,609)	(11)	38	74	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Company and Predecessor	(1,591)									6,684	3,781							(503)	10,928	6,030	(3,214)	(1,094)	3,891	7,325	3,884
Depreciation and amortization																		3,911	23,521	19,832	14,660	17	103	90	70
Total segment assets at end of period																		361,942	640,530	511,934		9,758	51,141	22,818		371,700	691,671	534,752
Segment operating income																										370	25,221	19,165	6,196
Interest expense												2,519		11,545	6,888	20,836										(2,519)	(11,545)	(6,888)	(20,836)
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives												146		(216)	259	871										146	(216)	259	871
Net unallocated expenses and eliminations																										(60)	(9,027)	(10,747)	(6,667)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated entities	(163)											(163)	(259)	361	(1,164)	(259)	(1,164)									(163)	361	(1,164)	(259)
Other income												44		(194)	461	43										44	(194)	461	43
Gain on purchase of previously unconsolidated entities												577		6,554	3,159	0										577	6,554	3,159	0
Income tax expense												0		356	464	0										0	(356)	(464)	0
Unallocated corporate assets and eliminations																										(443)	4,649	5,505
Total assets		$ 696,320				$ 540,257				$ 696,320	$ 540,257															$ 371,257	$ 696,320	$ 540,257