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  <xs:element id="avb_RealEstateGrossAtCarryingValueExcludingGrossRealEstateAssetsHeldForSale" abstract="false" name="RealEstateGrossAtCarryingValueExcludingGrossRealEstateAssetsHeldForSale" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NewEnglandMember" abstract="true" name="NewEnglandMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_GainLossonSaleofOtherInvestmentsNetOfMarketingAndAdministrativeCosts" abstract="false" name="GainLossonSaleofOtherInvestmentsNetOfMarketingAndAdministrativeCosts" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_DownRealEstateInvestmentTrustUnitsFairValue" abstract="false" name="DownRealEstateInvestmentTrustUnitsFairValue" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
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  <xs:element id="avb_NumberOfApartmentHomesAcquired" abstract="false" name="NumberOfApartmentHomesAcquired" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NotesPayableMaturities2028Member" abstract="true" name="NotesPayableMaturities2028Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_OperatingExpensesFromAssetsHeldForSaleNotClassifiedAsDiscontinuedOperations" abstract="false" name="OperatingExpensesFromAssetsHeldForSaleNotClassifiedAsDiscontinuedOperations" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_LeaseArrangementsDomain" abstract="true" name="LeaseArrangementsDomain" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NorthernCaliforniaMember" abstract="true" name="NorthernCaliforniaMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NumberOfCommunitiesHeldForSale" abstract="false" name="NumberOfCommunitiesHeldForSale" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_LandParcelMember" abstract="true" name="LandParcelMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_SecuredDebtandVariableRateUnsecuredIndebtednessMember" abstract="true" name="SecuredDebtandVariableRateUnsecuredIndebtednessMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_OtherStabilizedCommunitiesMember" abstract="true" name="OtherStabilizedCommunitiesMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NotesPayableMaturities2030Member" abstract="true" name="NotesPayableMaturities2030Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NumberOfOwnedCommunitiesUnderConstruction" abstract="false" name="NumberOfOwnedCommunitiesUnderConstruction" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NumberOfCommercialPropertiesOwned" abstract="false" name="NumberOfCommercialPropertiesOwned" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_AvalonRedmondPlaceMember" abstract="true" name="AvalonRedmondPlaceMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_DerivativeNotionalAmountsEnteredIntoDuringPeriod" abstract="false" name="DerivativeNotionalAmountsEnteredIntoDuringPeriod" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_AVACortezHillMember" abstract="true" name="AVACortezHillMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_AvalonNorthPointAndAvalonNorthPointLoftsMember" abstract="true" name="AvalonNorthPointAndAvalonNorthPointLoftsMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_EstablishedCommunitiesMember" abstract="true" name="EstablishedCommunitiesMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetOperatingIncomeFromAssetsHeldForSaleNotClassifiedAsDiscontinuedOperations" abstract="false" name="DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetOperatingIncomeFromAssetsHeldForSaleNotClassifiedAsDiscontinuedOperations" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_DerivativeWeightedAverageInterestRate" abstract="false" name="DerivativeWeightedAverageInterestRate" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_Amended2005StockRepurchaseProgramMember" abstract="true" name="Amended2005StockRepurchaseProgramMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NonEmployeeDirectorMember" abstract="true" name="NonEmployeeDirectorMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_NotesPayableMaturities2021Member" abstract="true" name="NotesPayableMaturities2021Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_PaymentForRedemptionOfPreferredInterestObligation" abstract="false" name="PaymentForRedemptionOfPreferredInterestObligation" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_LeaseRightOfUseAsset" abstract="false" name="LeaseRightOfUseAsset" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="avb_SalesAgentCompensationPercentageContinuousEquityProgram" abstract="false" name="SalesAgentCompensationPercentageContinuousEquityProgram" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
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  <xs:element id="avb_TheParkLoggiaMember" abstract="true" name="TheParkLoggiaMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
</xs:schema>
