UNSECURED BANK CREDIT FACILITIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
UNSECURED BANK CREDIT FACILITIES	Until June 14, 2018, EastGroup had $300 million and $35 million unsecured bank credit facilities with margins over LIBOR of 100 basis points, facility fees of 20 basis points and maturity dates of July 30, 2019. The Company amended and restated these credit facilities on June 14, 2018, expanding the capacity to $350 million and $45 million, as detailed below. The $350 million unsecured bank credit facility is with a group of nine banks and has a maturity date of July 30, 2022. The credit facility contains options for two six-month extensions (at the Company's election) and a $150 million accordion (with agreement by all parties). The interest rate on each tranche is usually reset on a monthly basis and as of December 31, 2018, was LIBOR plus 100 basis points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. The Company had designated an interest rate swap to an $80 million unsecured bank credit facility draw that effectively fixed the interest rate on the $80 million draw to 2.020% through the interest rate swap's maturity date. This swap matured on August 15, 2018, and the $80 million draw has reverted to the variable interest rate associated with the Company's unsecured bank credit facilities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $187,000,000 of variable rate borrowings outstanding on this unsecured bank credit facility with a weighted average interest rate of 3.508%. The Company has a standby letter of credit of $674,000 pledged on this facility. The Company's $45 million unsecured bank credit facility has a maturity date of July 30, 2022, or such later date as designated by the bank; the Company also has two six-month extensions available if the extension options in the $350 million facility are exercised. The interest rate is reset on a daily basis and as of December 31, 2018, was LIBOR plus 100 basis points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. As of December 31, 2018, the interest rate was 3.503% on a balance of $8,730,000. Average unsecured bank credit facilities borrowings were $141,223,000 in 2018, $114,751,000 in 2017 and $106,352,000 in 2016, with weighted average interest rates (excluding amortization of facility fees and debt issuance costs) of 2.64% in 2018, 2.07% in 2017 and 1.49% in 2016. Amortization of facility fees was $736,000, $670,000 and $670,000 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amortization of debt issuance costs for the Company's unsecured bank credit facilities was $508,000, $451,000 and $450,000 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company’s unsecured bank credit facilities have certain restrictive covenants, such as maintaining debt service coverage and leverage ratios and maintaining insurance coverage, and the Company was in compliance with all of its financial debt covenants at December 31, 2018. See Note 7 for a detail of the outstanding balances of the Company's Unsecured bank credit facilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Until June 14, 2018, EastGroup had $300 million and $35 million unsecured bank credit facilities with margins over LIBOR of 100 basis points, facility fees of 20 basis points and maturity dates of July 30, 2019. The Company amended and restated these credit facilities on June 14, 2018, expanding the capacity to $350 million and $45 million, as detailed below.

The $350 million unsecured bank credit facility is with a group of nine banks and has a maturity date of July 30, 2022. The credit facility contains options for two six-month extensions (at the Company's election) and a $150 million accordion (with agreement by all parties). The interest rate on each tranche is usually reset on a monthly basis and as of December 31, 2018, was LIBOR plus 100 basis points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. The Company had designated an interest rate swap to an $80 million unsecured bank credit facility draw that effectively fixed the interest rate on the $80 million draw to 2.020% through the interest rate swap's maturity date. This swap matured on August 15, 2018, and the $80 million draw has reverted to the variable interest rate associated with the Company's unsecured bank credit facilities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $187,000,000 of variable rate borrowings outstanding on this unsecured bank credit facility with a weighted average interest rate of 3.508%. The Company has a standby letter of credit of $674,000 pledged on this facility.

The Company's $45 million unsecured bank credit facility has a maturity date of July 30, 2022, or such later date as designated by the bank; the Company also has two six-month extensions available if the extension options in the $350 million facility are exercised. The interest rate is reset on a daily basis and as of December 31, 2018, was LIBOR plus 100 basis points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. As of December 31, 2018, the interest rate was 3.503% on a balance of $8,730,000.

Average unsecured bank credit facilities borrowings were $141,223,000 in 2018, $114,751,000 in 2017 and $106,352,000 in 2016, with weighted average interest rates (excluding amortization of facility fees and debt issuance costs) of 2.64% in 2018, 2.07% in 2017 and 1.49% in 2016. Amortization of facility fees was $736,000, $670,000 and $670,000 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amortization of debt issuance costs for the Company's unsecured bank credit facilities was $508,000, $451,000 and $450,000 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company’s unsecured bank credit facilities have certain restrictive covenants, such as maintaining debt service coverage and leverage ratios and maintaining insurance coverage, and the Company was in compliance with all of its financial debt covenants at December 31, 2018.

See Note 7 for a detail of the outstanding balances of the Company's Unsecured bank credit facilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.