v2.4.0.6

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 person multiplier community home | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2007 | Dec. 31, 2012 The Archstone Portfolio Acquisition | Nov. 30, 2012 Purchase Agreement Equity Residential | Nov. 30, 2012 Purchase Agreement The Archstone Portfolio Acquisition community home property | Nov. 30, 2012 Purchase Agreement Archstone Enterprise LP | Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum The Archstone Portfolio Acquisition | Dec. 31, 2012 Properties on land subject to land leases property item community | Dec. 31, 2012 Assets Held under Capital Leases community | Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted stock and stock options | Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted stock and stock options Minimum | Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted stock and stock options Maximum | Dec. 31, 2012 Officer Severance Program Vice presidents and senior vice presidents multiplier | Dec. 31, 2012 Officer Severance Program Executive vice presidents and CFO multiplier | Dec. 31, 2012 Officer Severance Program CEO multiplier | Dec. 31, 2012 Officer Severance Program Maximum
Acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of assets and liabilities to be acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment homes in communities acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,222 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of owned communities under construction | 23 |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated number of apartment homes in communities to be developed | 9,602 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,666 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wholly owned parcels of land |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment homes on land |  |  |  |  |  |  | 968 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in joint ventures not expected to be consolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 669,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock to be issued (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,889,706 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount of indebtedness assumed |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,700,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption value of preferred equity |  |  |  |  |  |  | 132,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment communities acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 66 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Termination fee if acquisition is not closed by March 26, 2013 |  |  |  |  | 800,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employment agreements and arrangements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of executive officers under agreement | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of executives, case one | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensation multiplier, case one | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensation multiplier, if the termination is in connection with a sale of the company, case one | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of executives, case two | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensation multiplier, case two | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensation multiplier, if the termination is in connection with a sale of the company, case two | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Options exercise period upon termination without cause or retirement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 months |  |  |  |
Retirement age |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Service period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |
Employee's age at retirement plus years of employment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 70 years |  |  |  |  |
Written notice period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 months |  |  |  |  |
Period of the non-compete agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |
Termination period following a sale event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18 months
Compensation multiplier |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Construction and development contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitment to acquire parcels of land |  |  |  | 111,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligation under commitment satisfied by purchasing remaining parcels | 27,709,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement proceeds related to environmental contamination matters |  | 1,303,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of communities under construction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of commercial properties owned |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of leased properties accounted for as operating leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of leased properties with purchase options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost related to operating lease | 17,604,000 | 16,887,000 | 35,356,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of development rights owned | 34 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital lease obligation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 36,005,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Additional number of communities owned (or in which a direct or indirect ownership interest is held) that can be developed. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the percentage of assets and liabilities to be acquired under the asset purchase agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the amount of acquisition cost of a business combination attributable to the redemption value of preferred equity units. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the amount of termination fee payable if the entity fails to close the acquisitions by a prescribed date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the compensation multiplier for executives under case one relating to employment agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the compensation multiple if the termination is in connection with a sale of the entity for executives under case one. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the compensation multiple if the termination is in connection with a sale of the entity for executives under case two. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the obligation under the long-term purchase commitment which is satisfied by the entity by purchasing the remaining parcels of land. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the number of apartment homes in communities acquired under the asset purchase agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of operating apartment communities owned (or in which a direct or indirect ownership interest is held). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of owned communities (or where a direct or indirect interest is owned) that are under construction. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the number of parcels of land wholly owned by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Total settlement proceeds related to environmental contamination matters pursued by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the sum of the age of an employee at Retirement plus years of employment with the entity, which is considered as a criterion for Retirement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the compensation (base salary plus annual cash bonus) multiplier considered for executives terminated. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the time period that an employee will have to exercise any options held upon termination without cause or retirement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the period of the non-compete agreement entered into by an employee. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the minimum period of written notice to be provided by an employee for communicating his intention to retire. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the age of an employee that is considered for Retirement, which results in vesting of the equity-based payment award. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the period following a sale within which if an employee, not covered by a severance agreement, terminates his employment, receives a lump sum payment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph f(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to notes payables and long-term debt assumed from the acquired entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 98-1 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph g -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
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