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Real Estate Investments - Co-Investments (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) unit | Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($) property | Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) community | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2010
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on disposal of equity method investment |  |  | $ 1,500 |  | $ 13,046 | $ 0 | $ 6,558 |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.00%
Co-investment | $ 1,161,275 |  | $ 20,400 | $ 13,700 | 1,161,275 | 1,036,047 |  |
Real estate under development | 190,505 |  |  |  | 190,505 | 242,326 |  |
Other liabilities | 32,922 |  |  |  | 32,922 | 34,518 |  |
Gain on sale of real estate |  |  |  | $ 2,400 | 14,000 | 44,900 | 43,600 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | (219,654) | (204,827) | (164,551) |
General and administrative |  |  |  |  | (40,751) | (40,090) | (40,878) |
Equity income in co-investments |  |  |  |  | $ 48,698 | $ 21,861 | $ 39,893 |
Number of communities sold | community |  |  |  | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Number of units sold | unit |  |  |  |  | 323 | 848 | 594 |
Sales Price |  |  |  | $ 13,000 | $ 80,800 | $ 308,800 | $ 120,400 |
Investments With Related Parties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity income in co-investments |  |  |  |  | 3,400 | 3,700 |  |
BEXAWE, LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of real estate |  |  |  |  | $ 13,000 |  |  |
Number of communities sold | community |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Number of units sold | unit |  |  |  |  | 532 |  |  |
Sales Price |  |  |  |  | $ 147,300 |  |  |
Preferred Interest In A Limited Liability Company That Owns An Apartment Development In San Jose With A Preferred Return Of Nine Percent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  | 50.10% |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  | $ 12,900 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating co investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 781,905 |  |  |  | $ 781,905 | $ 831,521 |  |
Number of apartments owned through joint ventures | unit | 11,274 |  |  |  | 11,274 | 10,520 |  |
Total operating co investments [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Total operating co investments [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 55.00% |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |  |
BEX II [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 49.90% |  |  |  | 49.90% |  |  |
Number of properties contributed into new entity | property |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on disposal of equity method investment | $ 126,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Co-investment | 19,078 |  |  |  | $ 19,078 | $ 0 |  |
CPPIB [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | 422,068 |  |  |  | $ 422,068 | 422,317 |  |
CPPIB [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
CPPIB [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |  |
Wesco I, III, and IV [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Co-investment | 180,687 |  |  |  | $ 180,687 | 218,902 |  |
Palm Valley [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Co-investment | 68,396 |  |  |  | $ 68,396 | 68,525 |  |
BEXAEW [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Co-investment | 47,963 |  |  |  | $ 47,963 | 88,850 |  |
Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | 43,713 |  |  |  | $ 43,713 | 32,927 |  |
Other [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Other [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |  |
Total development co investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 157,317 |  |  |  | $ 157,317 | $ 98,214 |  |
Number of apartments owned through joint ventures | unit | 1,427 |  |  |  | 1,427 | 1,676 |  |
Total development co investments [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Total development co investments [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 55.00% |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |  |
Total preferred interest investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 222,053 |  |  |  | $ 222,053 | $ 106,312 |  |
Total preferred interest investments [Member] | Investments in Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | 35,900 |  |  |  | 35,900 | 35,800 |  |
Total co investment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real estate under development | 3,807,245 |  |  |  | 3,807,245 | 3,360,360 |  |
Other assets | 121,505 |  |  |  | 121,505 | 96,785 |  |
Total assets | 3,928,750 |  |  |  | 3,928,750 | 3,457,145 |  |
Debt | 1,617,639 |  |  |  | 1,617,639 | 1,499,601 |  |
Other liabilities | 74,607 |  |  |  | 74,607 | 92,241 |  |
Equity | 2,236,504 |  |  |  | 2,236,504 | 1,865,303 |  |
Total liabilities and equity | 3,928,750 |  |  |  | 3,928,750 | 3,457,145 |  |
Company's share of equity | $ 1,161,275 |  |  |  | 1,161,275 | 1,036,047 |  |
Property revenues |  |  |  |  | 289,011 | 260,175 | 188,548 |
Property operating expenses |  |  |  |  | (99,637) | (93,067) | (71,419) |
Net operating income |  |  |  |  | 189,374 | 167,108 | 117,129 |
Gain on sale of real estate |  |  |  |  | 28,291 | 14 | 23,333 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | (46,894) | (44,834) | (39,990) |
General and administrative |  |  |  |  | (7,448) | (5,879) | (6,321) |
Equity income in co-investments |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 26,798 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  | (103,986) | (103,613) | (74,657) |
Net income |  |  |  |  | 59,337 | 12,796 | 46,292 |
Company's share of net income |  |  |  |  | $ 48,698 | $ 21,861 | $ 39,893 |

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