Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate investments
Land	$ 351,647	$ 353,890
Buildings and equipment	1,117,976	1,109,911
Construction in progress	6,165	2,267
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost, Total	1,475,788	1,466,068
Accumulated depreciation	(378,775)	(353,305)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net, Total	1,097,013	1,112,763
Cash and cash equivalents	12,945	12,133
Accounts receivable and accrued income, net	41,701	41,406
Deferred leasing costs, net	24,757	26,102
Prepaid expenses, net	1,669	3,895
Deferred debt costs, net	8,342	7,713
Other assets	5,183	3,297
Total assets	1,191,610	1,207,309
Liabilities
Mortgage notes payable	826,224	789,776
Revolving credit facility payable		38,000
Dividends and distributions payable	13,022	13,490
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	22,576	27,434
Deferred income	26,961	31,320
Total liabilities	888,783	900,020
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 20,353,039 and 20,045,452 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	204	201
Additional paid-in capital	260,371	246,557
Accumulated deficit	(170,649)	(154,830)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,866)	(3,553)
Total Saul Centers, Inc. stockholders' equity	268,060	267,703
Noncontrolling interest	34,767	39,586
Total stockholders' equity	302,827	307,289
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,191,610	1,207,309
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	40,000	100,000
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock		79,328
Series C Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	$ 140,000