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Investments in Real Estate Entities (Details 2) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Nov. 30, 2012 Archstone Enterprise LP | Dec. 31, 2012 Avalon Del Rey, LLC | Dec. 31, 2011 Avalon Del Rey, LLC | Dec. 31, 2010 Avalon Del Rey, LLC | Dec. 31, 2012 CVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2011 CVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2010 CVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2012 MVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2011 MVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2010 MVP I, LLC | Dec. 31, 2011 AvalonBay Value Added Fund, L.P. | Dec. 31, 2010 AvalonBay Value Added Fund, L.P. | Dec. 31, 2012 AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P | Dec. 31, 2011 AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P | Dec. 31, 2010 AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P | Dec. 31, 2012 Juanita Village
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real estate, net | $ 1,337,084,000 | $ 1,583,397,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other assets | 73,252,000 | 70,233,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 1,410,336,000 | 1,653,630,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities and partners' capital: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage notes payable and credit facility | 943,259,000 | 1,074,429,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other liabilities | 20,405,000 | 27,335,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Partners' capital | 446,672,000 | 551,866,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total liabilities and partners' capital | 1,410,336,000 | 1,653,630,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Combined summary of the operating results of the accounted for using the equity method |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rental and other income | 172,076,000 | 160,066,000 | 114,755,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating and other expenses | (73,955,000) | (71,926,000) | (56,322,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of communities | 106,195,000 | 22,246,000 |  |  | 44,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,063,000 |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense, net | (53,904,000) | (50,530,000) | (40,050,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense | (47,748,000) | (47,920,000) | (36,631,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 102,664,000 | 11,936,000 | (18,248,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Costs in excess of equity in underlying net assets of the respective investments |  |  |  |  | 7,342,000 | 9,167,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of the Company's equity in income of unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities | 20,914,000 | 5,120,000 | 762,000 |  | 4,000,000 | 102,000 | 1,000 | 5,394,000 | 4,493,000 | 4,368,000 | 493,000 | (626,000) | (881,000) | 2,204,000 | (1,653,000) | 2,130,000 | (1,053,000) | (1,073,000) |
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities relating to the Company's recognition of promoted interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,865,000 | 2,815,000 | 2,839,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,856,000
Gain on sale of assets | 106,195,000 | 22,246,000 |  |  | 44,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,063,000 |  |  |  |  |
Transaction costs |  |  |  | $ 9,593,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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