Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Cb Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net loss incurred by the CB Portfolio based on the Company's purchase price				$ (28,729)	[1]
Campus Crest percentage of net loss				(9,215)
Campus Crest percentage of preferred payment				5,663	[2]
Campus Crest losses from Copper Beech				(3,552)
Amortization of basis difference				(264)	[3]
Total equity in losses in CB Portfolio	$ (3,727)	$ 361	$ (1,164)	$ (3,816)

[1] The basis of the financial statements of the CB Portfolio used in the calculation of the Company’s equity in losses for the period from March 18, 2013 to December 31, 2013 was computed using the Company’s cost basis for its investment in the CB Portfolio’s underlying assets and liabilities for its properties at the dates the Company acquired its interests in the CB Portfolio. For the period from March 18, 2013 to September 30, 2013 this included 35 properties and included 28 properties for the period from October 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. The calculation includes the effects of purchase price adjustments determined at the date the Company acquired its interests in the CB Portfolio. We consummated the acquisition of a 48.0% interest in 35 properties of the CB Portfolio. As a result of lender consents that were required to be obtained from various lenders to the CB Portfolio prior to our ownership, we completed our acquisition of the 48.0% interest in stages, which resulted in a variation in our ownership percentage from 25.3% to 48.0% in all 35 of the CB Portfolio properties from March 18, 2013 to September 30, 2013. Effective October 1, 2013, the Company and the CB Portfolio sellers amended the purchase and sale agreement, subject to receipt of all required third party consents, to increase the Company’s ownership interest by 19.0% in 28 of the 35 properties (thereby increasing its ownership in the 28 properties to 67%) in exchange for the Company’s 48.0% interest in seven of the properties (thereby reducing our ownership in the seven properties to 0%) and deferring the Company’s acquisition of any interests in two of the properties, plus a $20.2 million cash payment. Accordingly, the Company recognized its proportionate share of earnings of the CB Portfolio for the specific percentage of ownership interest we held during the applicable period.

[2] As part of the purchase and sale agreement, the Company was entitled to receive a $13.0 million preferred payment over a one year period beginning March 18, 2013 and ending on March 17, 2014. As such, for the period from March 18, 2013 to December 31, 2013 the Company recorded in income its proportionate share of this payment, which corresponds to the portion of the CB Portfolio held by the other owners of Copper Beech.

[3] Included in the calculation of equity in losses in the CB Portfolio is the amortization of the net difference in the Company’s carrying value of investment as compared to the underlying equity in net assets of the investee.