v2.4.0.6
Shareholders Equity of the REIT (Details Textual) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Stock
Dec. 31, 2011
Stock
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Jun. 03, 2011
Jun. 02, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
6.5% Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
6.75% series M Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
7.00% series O Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
6.85% series P Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
8.54% series Q Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
6.75% series R Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
6.75% series S Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Share Purchase Plan
Mar. 31, 2010
Controlled Offering Program [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Common Stock
Dec. 31, 2010
Common Stock
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Stock
Dec. 31, 2008
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]                                            
Common stock, shares issued       459,401,000 459,401,000 254,482,000                       0        
Common shares issued to public     34,500,000                               34,500,000 41,069,000 78,031,000  
Percentage of fee earn from gross proceeds                                   2.00%        
Discounted price of market price of common shares                                 85.00%          
Aggregate fair value of common shares under employee purchase plan                                 $ 25,000          
Number of common shares issued under employee purchase plan           76,000 87,000                              
Number of common stock shares available under Employee Share plan       4,900,000 4,900,000                                  
Cumulative redeemable preferred units, issued       21,300,000 21,300,000         2,000,000 2,300,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000            
Common stock shares authorized to be issued                                     500,000,000      
Stockholders' Equity of the REIT and Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership (Textual) [Abstract]                                            
Conversion basis of common stock       0.4464 0.4464 0.4464 0.4464                              
Restated number of shares post merger           254,500,000                                
Common shares added to reflect outstanding stock of acquired entity               169,600,000                            
Net proceeds from shares added to reflect outstanding shares of common stock of acquired entity 1,100,000,000                                          
Gross proceeds from the issue of common stock under share based compensation plans         700,000 30,800,000 337,400,000                              
Number of units redeemed under Limited Partnership       0 0 100,000 200,000                              
REIT Description       five or fewer individuals may not own more than 50% of the value of our outstanding stock at any time during the last half of our taxable year. Therefore, our charter restricts beneficial ownership (or ownership generally attributed to a person under the REIT tax rules) by a person or persons acting as a group, of each of our issued and outstanding common, series L preferred stock, series M preferred stock, series O preferred stock and series P preferred stock, or (ii) series Q preferred stock, series R preferred stock or series S preferred stock that, together with all other capital stock owned or deemed owned by that person, would cause that person to own or be deemed to own more than 9.8% (by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) or our issued and outstanding capital stock. five or fewer individuals may not own more than 50% of the value of our outstanding stock at any time during the last half of our taxable year. Therefore, our charter restricts beneficial ownership (or ownership generally attributed to a person under the REIT tax rules) by a person or persons acting as a group, of each of our issued and outstanding common, series L preferred stock, series M preferred stock, series O preferred stock and series P preferred stock, or (ii) series Q preferred stock, series R preferred stock or series S preferred stock that, together with all other capital stock owned or deemed owned by that person, would cause that person to own or be deemed to own more than 9.8% (by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) or our issued and outstanding capital stock.                                  
Beneficial interest of outstanding shares       50.00% 50.00%                                  
Number of Individuals need to own the beneficial interest of outstanding shares under REIT code       five or fewer individuals five or fewer individuals                                  
Beneficial interest of outstanding shares by a single person or acting as group       9.80% 9.80%                                  
Real Estate Investment Trust Requirements Code Description       generally required to make common stock distributions (other than capital gain distributions) to our shareholders at least equal to (i) the sum of (a) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains and (b) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (ii) certain excess non-cash income generally required to make common stock distributions (other than capital gain distributions) to our shareholders at least equal to (i) the sum of (a) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains and (b) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (ii) certain excess non-cash income                                  
Percentage of REIT taxable income computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains       90.00% 90.00%                                  
Percentage of net income after tax from foreclosure property       90.00% 90.00%                                  
Shares authorized to be issued       600,000,000 600,000,000                                  
Cash distributions declared   $ 0.28                                        
Common stock, shares outstanding       458,597,000 458,597,000 254,482,000     571,400,000                   459,401,000 254,482,000 211,666,000 119,191,000
Common limited partnership units, outstanding       2,100,000 2,100,000                                  
Third party ownership interest of common partnership units       0.45% 0.45%                                  
Number of series of preferred stock       7 7                                  
Percentage of ownership restrictions       25.00% 25.00%