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Investments in Real Estate Entities (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community home loan extension agreement investor mi | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Feb. 27, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of other real estate | $ 10,224 | $ 9,647 | $ 490 |  |  |
Gain on sale of communities | $ 196,749 | 98,899 | 333,221 |  |  |
Number of Communities Acquired | community | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt | $ (7,075) | 26,736 | (412) |  |  |
Number of Limited Liability Company Agreements | agreement | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes in Communities Owned | home | 79,228 |  |  |  |  |
Payment for Redemption of Preferred Interest Obligation | $ 1,960 | 14,410 | 6,300 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities | 175,116 | 216,919 |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity | 38,015 | 40,978 |  |  |  |
Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries | $ 9,922 | 6,822 | (3,717) |  |  |
Avalon Hoboken [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes, Acquired | home | 217 |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | $ 129,700 |  |  |  |  |
Avalon Hoboken [Member] | Notes Payable Maturities 2020 [Member] | Secured notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Assumed principal amount of indebtedness |  |  |  |  | $ 67,904 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage |  |  |  |  | 4.18% |
Avalon Potomac Yard [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes, Acquired | home | 323 |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | $ 108,250 |  |  |  |  |
Avalon Columbia Pike [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes, Acquired | home | 269 |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | $ 102,000 |  |  |  |  |
Avalon Columbia Pike [Member] | Notes Payable Maturities 2019 [Member] | Secured notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Assumed principal amount of indebtedness |  |  |  | $ 70,507 |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage |  |  |  | 3.38% |  |
Studio 77 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes, Acquired | home | 156 |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price | $ 72,100 |  |  |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries | $ 5,139 | 3,806 | (7,681) |  |  |
Archstone Enterprise LP |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00%
Equity Residential and its Operating Partnership and ERP Operating Limited Partnership [Member] | Archstone Enterprise LP |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00%
Fund II |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Institutional Investors | investor | 6 |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 19,737 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 31.30% |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment communities sold | community | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes Sold | home | 1,514 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of communities | $ 41,501 | $ 29,726 | 21,624 |  |  |
Repayments of secured mortgages | 156,248 |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt | $ (1,768) |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Right of Distribution | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Right of Remaining Distribution | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities relating to the Company's recognition of promoted interest | $ 7,985 |  |  |  |  |
Number of loans secured by individual assets | loan | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding | $ 128,008 |  |  |  |  |
Fund II | Eaves Rancho San Diego [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate | 158,000 |  |  |  |  |
Fund II | Eaves Tustin [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate | 163,550 |  |  |  |  |
Fund II | Eaves Rockville [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate | $ 61,400 |  |  |  |  |
US Fund |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Institutional Investors | investor | 6 |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 49,693 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 28.60% |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment communities sold | community | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes Sold | home | 461 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of communities | $ 16,568 |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of secured mortgages | 94,822 |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt | $ 2,003 |  |  |  |  |
Number of loans secured by individual assets | loan | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding | $ 274,255 |  |  |  |  |
Number of extension options | extension | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Period of extension (in years) | 1 year |  |  |  |  |
US Fund | Archstone Boca Town Center [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate | $ 56,300 |  |  |  |  |
US Fund | Avalon Kips Bay [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate | $ 173,000 |  |  |  |  |
ACJV |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Institutional Investors | investor | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 50,674 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Maximum geographic radius for existing assets within considered for right of first offer | mi | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Number of loans secured by individual assets | loan | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding | $ 162,300 |  |  |  |  |
MVPI LLC |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Right of Distribution |  | 45.00% |  |  |  |
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities relating to the Company's recognition of promoted interest |  | $ 21,340 | $ 930 |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes in Communities Owned | home | 313 |  |  |  |  |
MVPI LLC | Joint Venture Agreement Modification [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Real Estate Partnerships |  | $ 20,680 |  |  |  |
Brandywine [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 28.70% |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding | $ 23,307 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes in Communities Owned | home | 305 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Members who Hold Various Interests in Joint Venture | investor | 5 |  |  |  |  |
SWIB [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Residual JV |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |
Legacy JV [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |
Preferred Interest Obligation Liquidation Value | $ 39,921 |  |  |  |  |
Sudbury [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 6,680 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 60.00% |  |  |  |  |
Avalon Clarendon [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 120,300 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes, Acquired | home | 300 |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain | $ 4,322 |  |  |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities | 115,848 |  |  |  |  |
AVA North Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures | $ 12,398 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 55.00% |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of other real estate | $ 10,621 |  |  |  |  |
Number of Apartment Homes in Communities Owned | home | 265 |  |  |  |  |
AVA North Point [Member] | Joint Venture Partner [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 45.00% |  |  |  |  |
Sheepshead Bay [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage | 70.00% |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Ownership Interest by Partner | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |
Due from Related Parties | $ 27,241 |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
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