| Real Estate Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul. 15, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013
 item | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013
 Keystone Affiliates [Member] | Oct. 23, 2012
 JMP Eastchester, L.L.C. [Member] | Aug. 22, 2013
 Hudson Valley Land Holdings, L.L.C. [Member] | Oct. 23, 2012
 Hudson Valley Land Holdings, L.L.C. [Member] | Jan. 18, 2013
 Alterra At Overlook Ridge IA [Member]
 item | Apr. 04, 2013
 Alterra At Overlook Ridge IB [Member]
 item | Sep. 30, 2013
 19 Skyline Drive [Member] | Aug. 27, 2013
 Pennsylvania Office Portfolio [Member]
 loan
 sqft | Jun. 30, 2013
 Pennsylvania Office Portfolio [Member]
 property | Sep. 30, 2013
 Pennsylvania Office Portfolio [Member] | Aug. 27, 2013
 Pennsylvania Office Portfolio [Member]
 Keystone Affiliates [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013
 New Jersey [Member]
 property
 sqft | Oct. 23, 2012
 Eastchester Project [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013
 Eastchester Project [Member] | Aug. 22, 2013
 Eastchester Project [Member] | Oct. 23, 2012
 150 Main Street, L.L.C. [Member]
 Eastchester Project [Member]
 item | Sep. 30, 2013
 Construction Loan [Member]
 150 Main Street, L.L.C. [Member]
 Eastchester Project [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013
 Minimum [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013
 Maximum [Member] | |
| Real Estate Properties [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of units | 310 | 412 | 108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business acquisition, cash paid | $ 61,300,000 | $ 88,000,000 | $ 4,900,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction costs | 214,000 | 214,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of interest in venture | 26.25% | 76.25% | 7.50% | 80.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Area of property (in square feet) | 1,660,000 | 1,300,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of land parcels sold | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third party ownership percentage | 0.00% | 26.25% | 23.75% | 47.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total project costs | 46,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum borrowing capacity | 600,000,000 | 600,000,000 | 600,000,000 | 27,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of project costs funded by members | 18,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent ownership percentage | 76.25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of property | 332,540,000 | 4,023,000 | 201,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales proceeds | 207,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale price of property | 233,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of mortgage loans | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New mortgage loan | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of mortgage funded | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital balance | 22,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount held by intermediary for reinvestment | 55,300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closing costs | 5,552,000 | 536,000 | 15,809,000 | 1,542,000 | 4,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan, maturity period | 10 years | 2 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loan extension period | 1 year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spread over LIBOR | 1.25% | 6.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Initial internal rate of return | 15.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Internal rate of return | 10.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of impaired properties | 5 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairments | 48,700,000 | 48,700,000 | 48,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan | $ 752,344,000 | $ 752,344,000 | $ 757,495,000 | $ 159,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capitalization rate | 8.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | 10.00% | 15.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||