Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Joint Venture Apartment Communities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Asset management fees	$ 93,000	$ 346,000	$ 426,000
Construction management fees	1,000	3,000	3,000
Due from related parties	1,800,000	3,100,000	400,000
Minimum | Joint Venture Apartment Communities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Joint venture property management fee (percentage)	4.00%
Maximum | Joint Venture Apartment Communities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Joint venture property management fee (percentage)	4.25%
Parent Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees income	647,000	899,000	1,017,000	[1]
Limited Partner [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees income	647,000	899,000	1,017,000
Due to Related Parties, Current	$ 19,000	$ 617,000

[1] The 2011 column shows the segment break down based on the 2012 same store portfolios. A comparison using the 2013 same store portfolio would not be comparative due to the nature of the classifications.