CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Student housing rental	$ 38,790	$ 23,635
Student housing services	1,310	973
Property management services	229	103
Total revenues	40,329	24,711
Operating expenses:
Student housing operations	17,204	10,613
General and administrative	8,038	3,506
Severance	508	0
Write-off of other assets	769	0
Transaction costs	1,492	585
Ground leases	120	117
Depreciation and amortization	19,756	6,980
Total operating expenses	47,887	21,801
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(2,149)	319
Operating income (loss)	(9,707)	3,229
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(7,788)	(3,376)
Gain on purchase of Copper Beech	21,642	0
Gain on sale of land and unconsolidated entities	7,748	0
Other income (expense)	(55)	66
Total nonoperating income (expense), net	21,547	(3,310)
Net income (loss) before income tax benefit	11,840	(81)
Income tax benefit	0	190
Income from continuing operations	11,840	109
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,157)	939
Net income	10,683	1,048
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,157)	(15)
Dividends on preferred stock	3,050	3,050
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 9,790	$ (1,987)
Per share data - basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.17	$ (0.04)
(Loss) Income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	(0.02)	0.01
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders	0.15	(0.03)
Per share data - diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	0.15	(0.04)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	(0.01)	0.01
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.14	$ (0.03)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	64,720	64,495
Diluted	78,686	64,929
Consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss):
Net income	$ 10,683	$ 1,048
Foreign currency translation	(651)	(992)
Comprehensive income	10,032	56
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,157)	(15)
Foreign currency translation attributable to noncontrolling interest	(93)	7
Dividends on preferred stock	3,050	3,050
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 9,232	$ (2,986)