Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Student Housing Operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Student Housing Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Student Housing Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Student Housing Operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Development Construction and Management Services [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Development Construction and Management Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Development Construction and Management Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Development Construction and Management Services [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Reconciliations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Reconciliations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Reconciliations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Reconciliations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	$ 32,044	$ 32,999		$ 24,608	$ 21,572			$ 7,436	$ 11,427
Operating expenses	28,195	29,116		17,500	15,288			31,420	29,486
Income from wholly-owned student housing operations				7,108	6,284
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated earnings	319	410		319	410
Operating income	4,168	4,293		7,427	6,694
Nonoperating expenses	(3,310)	(2,848)		(3,941)	(2,563)
Net income	1,048	2,167		3,486	4,131			2,850	1,134			858	1,445
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(15)	11		34	38			27	11
Net income attributable to common stockholders	0	267		3,452	4,093			2,823	1,123
Depreciation and amortization				6,770	5,536			1	50
Capital expenditures	(9,112)	2,040		30,218	25,695
Investment in unconsolidated entities	359,301		324,838	359,301	165,688
Total segment assets at end of period						1,136,343	1,134,960			102,127	57,072			1,238,470	1,192,032
Intersegment revenues								26,834	19,193			(26,834)	(19,193)
Total revenues								34,270	30,620			58,878	52,192
Total consolidated revenues	7,436	11,427										32,044	32,999
Segment operating income												10,277	7,828
Interest expense	(3,376)	(2,884)										(3,376)	(2,884)
Net unallocated expenses related to corporate overhead												(6,109)	(3,535)
Other income (expense)												66	36
Unallocated corporate assets and eliminations														12,430	6,181
Total assets at end of period	$ 1,250,900		$ 1,182,679											$ 1,250,900	$ 1,198,213