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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community property Claim person multiplier Lease plaintiff | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from legal recoveries | $ | $ 417 | $ 0 | $ 1,933
Capital Leased Assets, Gross | $ | $ 39,015 | 39,019 |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of executive officers under agreement | person | 2 |  |
Lease Obligations [Abstract] |  |  |
Cost related to operating lease | $ | $ 23,343 | $ 21,295 | $ 21,664
Number of Office Leases | Lease | 13 |  |
Properties on Land Subject to Land Leases |  |  |
Lease Obligations [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of apartment communities | community | 16 |  |
Number of commercial properties owned | property | 2 |  |
Number of leased properties accounted for as operating leases | community | 13 |  |
Number of Dual Branded Properties with Operating Land Leases | community | 2 |  |
Land Subject to Ground Leases | Lease | 1 |  |
Number of leased properties with purchase options | property | 5 |  |
Assets Held under Capital Leases |  |  |
Lease Obligations [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of apartment communities | community | 3 |  |
Number of Dual Branded Properties with Capital Land Leases | community | 2 |  |
Number of Capital Land Leases for Dual Branded Properties | Lease | 1 |  |
Capital lease obligations | $ | $ 37,458 |  |
Restricted stock and stock options |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Retirement age (in years) | 50 years |  |
Period of the non-compete agreement (in years) | 1 year |  |
Restricted stock and stock options | Minimum |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Service period (in years) | 10 years |  |
Employee's age at retirement plus years of employment (in years) | 70 years |  |
Written notice period (in years) | 6 months |  |
Restricted stock and stock options | Maximum |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Options exercise period upon termination without cause or retirement (in months) | 12 months |  |
Officer Severance Program | Vice President and Senior Vice President |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Compensation multiplier | multiplier | 1 |  |
Officer Severance Program | Executive Vice Presidents |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Compensation multiplier | multiplier | 2 |  |
Officer Severance Program | Maximum |  |  |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements [Abstract] |  |  |
Termination period following a sale event (in years) | 18 months |  |
Avalon at Edgewater [Member] |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss Contingency Total Class Action Claims Filed Number | 5 |  |
Loss Contingency New Class Action Claims Filed Number | 3 |  |
Loss Contingency Class Action Claims Filed, Additional, Number | 4 |  |
Loss Contingency, New Claims Filed, Number | 21 |  |
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs | plaintiff | 150 |  |
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number | 20 |  |
Loss Contingency New Subrogation Claims Filed Number | 5 |  |
Loss Contingency Subrogation Claims Filed Dismissed Number | 1 |  |
Loss Contingency Subrogation Claims Filed Pending Number | 4 |  |

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