Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Initial Cost	$ 659,060
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	10,327
Total Costs of Land	53,984
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	615,403
Total Costs	669,387
Accumulated depreciation:	(97,820)
Encumbrances	(218,337)
Grove At Asheville Nc [Member]
Initial Cost	12,604
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	502
Total Costs of Land	51
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	13,055
Total Costs	13,106	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,495)
Encumbrances	(14,684)
Year Built	2005
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Carrollton Ga [Member]
Initial Cost	13,294
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	887
Total Costs of Land	1,104
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	13,077
Total Costs	14,181	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,268)
Encumbrances	(14,462)
Year Built	2006
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Las Cruces Nm [Member]
Initial Cost	16,025
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	1,245
Total Costs of Land	1,098
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,172
Total Costs	17,270	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,650)
Encumbrances	(14,946)
Year Built	2006
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Milledgeville Ga [Member]
Initial Cost	14,543
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	945
Total Costs of Land	942
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	14,546
Total Costs	15,488	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,692)
Encumbrances	(16,041)
Year Built	2006
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Abilene Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	16,962
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	431
Total Costs of Land	1,361
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,032
Total Costs	17,393	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,810)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Ellensburg Wa [Member]
Initial Cost	20,827
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	331
Total Costs of Land	1,483
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	19,675
Total Costs	21,158	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(5,200)
Encumbrances	(16,125)
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Greeley Co [Member]
Initial Cost	19,971
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	1,151
Total Costs of Land	1,454
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	19,668
Total Costs	21,122	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,775)
Encumbrances	(15,233)
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Jacksonville Al [Member]
Initial Cost	17,567
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	569
Total Costs of Land	892
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,244
Total Costs	18,136	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,912)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Mobile Al Phase One [Member]
Initial Cost	15,823
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	250
Total Costs of Land	98
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	15,975
Total Costs	16,073	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,695)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Nacogdoches Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	18,604
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	461
Total Costs of Land	1,188
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,877
Total Costs	19,065	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,887)
Encumbrances	(17,160)
Year Built	2007
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Cheney Wa [Member]
Initial Cost	18,788
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	277
Total Costs of Land	1,347
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,718
Total Costs	19,065	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,288)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Jonesboro Ar [Member]
Initial Cost	17,761
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	382
Total Costs of Land	2,156
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	15,987
Total Costs	18,143	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,128)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Lubbock Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	18,229
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	231
Total Costs of Land	1,520
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,940
Total Costs	18,460	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,219)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Mobile Al Phase Two [Member]
Initial Cost	17,271
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	267
Total Costs of Land	52
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,486
Total Costs	17,538	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(3,970)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Stephenville Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	17,100
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	245
Total Costs of Land	1,250
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,095
Total Costs	17,345	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,255)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Troy Al [Member]
Initial Cost	18,248
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	435
Total Costs of Land	1,433
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,250
Total Costs	18,683	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,380)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Waco Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	17,566
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	288
Total Costs of Land	1,094
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,760
Total Costs	17,854	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,355)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Wichita Ks [Member]
Initial Cost	16,951
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	173
Total Costs of Land	911
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,213
Total Costs	17,124	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,220)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Wichita Falls Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	17,955
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	355
Total Costs of Land	2,065
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	16,225
Total Costs	18,290	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(4,116)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2008
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Murfreesboro Tn [Member]
Initial Cost	19,994
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	372
Total Costs of Land	2,678
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	17,688
Total Costs	20,366	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(3,161)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2009
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At San Marcos Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	24,126
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	102
Total Costs of Land	1,791
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	22,437
Total Costs	24,228	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(1,887)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2009
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Moscow Id [Member]
Initial Cost	25,731
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	48
Total Costs of Land	1,839
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	23,940
Total Costs	25,779	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(336)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2009
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Huntsville Tx [Member]
Initial Cost	23,444
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	110
Total Costs of Land	2,157
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	21,397
Total Costs	23,554	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(735)
Encumbrances	(12,636)
Year Built	2010
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Statesboro Ga [Member]
Initial Cost	25,349
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	44
Total Costs of Land	1,621
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	23,772
Total Costs	25,393	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(814)
Encumbrances	(18,100)
Year Built	2010
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Clarksville Tn [Member]
Initial Cost	21,805
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	58
Total Costs of Land	1,296
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	20,567
Total Costs	21,863	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(1,028)
Encumbrances	(16,350)
Year Built	2011
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Ames Ia [Member]
Initial Cost	22,834
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	57
Total Costs of Land	1,919
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	20,972
Total Costs	22,891	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(1,051)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2011
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Fort Wayne In [Member]
Initial Cost	18,889
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	39
Total Costs of Land	844
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	18,084
Total Costs	18,928	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(944)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2011
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Columbia Mo [Member]
Initial Cost	24,551
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	43
Total Costs of Land	3,611
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	20,983
Total Costs	24,594	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(1,058)
Encumbrances	(23,605)
Year Built	2011
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Valdosta Ga [Member]
Initial Cost	29,381
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	49
Total Costs of Land	1,562
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	27,868
Total Costs	29,430	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(466)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2011
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Auburn, Al [Member]
Initial Cost	26,525
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	0
Total Costs of Land	4,423
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	22,102
Total Costs	26,525	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(308)
Encumbrances	(13,157)
Year Built	2012
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Flagstaff Az [Member]
Initial Cost	34,125
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	0
Total Costs of Land	6,970
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	27,155
Total Costs	34,125	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(321)
Encumbrances	(15,331)
Year Built	2012
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Nacogdoches Tx Phase Two [Member]
Initial Cost	7,718
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	0
Total Costs of Land	401
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	7,317
Total Costs	7,718	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(90)
Encumbrances	0
Year Built	2012
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]
Grove At Orono Me [Member]
Initial Cost	28,499
2012 Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Development	0
Total Costs of Land	1,373
Total Costs of Student Housing Properties	27,126
Total Costs	28,499	[1]
Accumulated depreciation:	(306)
Encumbrances	$ (10,507)
Year Built	2012
Depreciable Lives	40 years	[1]

[1] The life to compute depreciation on buildings is 40 years. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and building improvements are depreciated over periods of up to 20 years.