Segments (Details) - Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	$ 40,329	$ 24,711
Operating expenses	47,887	21,801
Severance expense	508	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(2,149)	319
Operating income (loss)	(9,707)	3,229
Investment in unconsolidated entities	93,783		$ 259,740
Total consolidated revenues	229	103
Interest expense	(7,788)	(3,376)
Gain On Purchase Of Copper Beech	21,642	0
Gain on sale of land and unconsolidated joint ventures	7,748	0
Other income (expense)	(55)	66
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax benefit	11,840	(81)
Total assets at end of period	1,584,211		$ 1,174,042
Grove and evo Operations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	30,901	24,608
Operating expenses	21,727	17,500
Income (loss) from wholly-owned student housing operations	9,174	7,108
Severance expense	(508)	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(1,372)	251
Operating income (loss)	7,294	7,359
Depreciation and amortization	7,717	6,770
Capital expenditures	1,376	30,218
Investment in unconsolidated entities	43,109	93,291
Total segment assets at end of period	927,097	972,460
Copper Beech Operations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	9,199	0
Operating expenses	6,187	0
Intangible amortization of in place leases	8,661	0
Income (loss) from wholly-owned student housing operations	(5,649)	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(777)	68
Operating income (loss)	(6,426)	68
Depreciation and amortization	11,534	0
Capital expenditures	338	0
Investment in unconsolidated entities	50,674	266,010
Total segment assets at end of period	652,609	266,010
Property Management Services [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	229	103
Intersegment revenues	122	58
Total segment revenues	351	161
Operating expenses	233	365
Operating income (loss)	118	(204)
Depreciation and amortization	188	1
Total segment assets at end of period	0	0
Reconciliations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Intersegment revenues	(122)	(58)
Total segment revenues	40,451	24,769
Total consolidated revenues	40,329	24,711
Segment operating income (loss)	986	7,223
Interest expense	(7,788)	(3,376)
Transaction Costs	(1,492)	0
Gain On Purchase Of Copper Beech	21,642	0
Gain on sale of land and unconsolidated joint ventures	7,748	0
Corporate depreciation and amortization	(317)	(209)
Net unallocated expenses and eliminations	(8,115)	(3,785)
Write off of other assets	(769)	0
Other income (expense)	(55)	66
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax benefit	11,840	(81)
Total segment assets at end of period	1,579,706	1,238,470
Unallocated corporate assets and eliminations	4,505	12,430
Total assets at end of period	$ 1,584,211	$ 1,250,900