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Real Estate Assets (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2012 Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties | Jun. 30, 2012 Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft | Jun. 30, 2012 Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties | Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft | Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rentable square feet of acquisition (in sq. ft) |  |  |  |  |  | 178,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 178,300 |
Acquisition purchase price |  |  |  |  |  | $ 26,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 26,000,000 |
Dispositions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of rental residential units |  |  |  |  | 96 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 96 |  |
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate |  |  |  |  | 11,000,000 |  | 9,500,000 |  |  |  |  | 11,000,000 |  | 9,500,000
Gains on disposition of discontinued operations | $ 1,385,000 | $ 0 | $ 6,519,000 | $ 0 | $ 5,100,000 |  | $ 1,400,000 | $ 1,385,000 | $ 0 | $ 6,519,000 | $ 0 | $ 5,100,000 |  | $ 1,400,000

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