Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate investments
Land	$ 364,146	$ 354,967
Buildings and equipment	1,097,921	1,094,605
Construction in progress	11,880	9,867
Real estate investments	1,473,947	1,459,439
Accumulated depreciation	(372,041)	(364,663)
Real estate investments, net	1,101,906	1,094,776
Cash and cash equivalents	15,351	17,297
Accounts receivable and accrued income, net	43,748	43,884
Deferred leasing costs, net	25,996	26,052
Prepaid expenses, net	3,390	4,047
Deferred debt costs, net	9,345	9,675
Other assets	4,861	2,944
Total assets	1,204,597	1,198,675
Liabilities
Mortgage notes payable	814,635	820,068
Revolving credit facility payable	0	0
Dividends and distributions payable	14,308	13,135
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	23,255	20,141
Deferred income	31,990	30,205
Total liabilities	884,188	883,549
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 20,648,398 and 20,576,616 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	206	206
Additional paid-in capital	273,351	270,428
Accumulated deficit	(173,747)	(172,564)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,561)	(1,392)
Total Saul Centers, Inc. stockholders’ equity	278,249	276,678
Noncontrolling interest	42,160	38,448
Total stockholders’ equity	320,409	315,126
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,204,597	1,198,675
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	40,000	40,000
Series C Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	$ 140,000	$ 140,000