Real Estate Activity Other (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2006	Jun. 30, 2012 Warranty Obligations	Mar. 31, 2012 Warranty Obligations	Jun. 30, 2011 Loss Contingency	Jun. 30, 2011 Non-cash Impairment	Jun. 30, 2011 Casualty Loss	Jun. 30, 2012 For Sale properties	Jun. 30, 2011 For Sale	Jun. 30, 2012 For Sale properties	Jun. 30, 2011 For Sale	Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Properties Trust	Jun. 30, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust	Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Properties Trust	Jun. 30, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust	Dec. 31, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust	Jun. 30, 2012 Segment, Discontinued Operations
Real Estate Properties
Impairment and other losses	$ 395,000	[1]	$ 148,000	[1]	$ 895,000	[1]	$ 2,244,000	[1]		$ 400,000	$ 500,000	$ 1,500,000	$ 200,000	$ 500,000					$ 395,000	$ 148,000	$ 895,000	$ 2,244,000		$ 300,000
For-Sale Activities
For-sale residential unit dispositions									230						2	3	4	5
Proceeds from sale of residential units															700,000	1,400,000	1,800,000	2,000,000
For-sale residential lot dispositions															1
Proceeds from sale of residential lots															100,000
Total units															9		9
Number of lots remaining															39		39
Real estate held-for-sale															$ 8,600,000		$ 8,600,000		$ 148,412,000		$ 148,412,000		$ 10,543,000

[1] See Note 3 - "Real Estate Activity - Impairment and Other Losses" for a description of the charges.