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Real Estate Investments - Development Co-Investments (Details) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) unit | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) unit | Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($) unit
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 1,161,275 | $ 1,036,047 | $ 20,400 | $ 13,700 |
Total operating co investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartments owned through joint ventures | unit | 11,274 | 10,520 |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 781,905 | $ 831,521 |  |  |
Total operating co investments [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Total operating co investments [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 55.00% |  |  |  |
Total development co investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartments owned through joint ventures | unit | 1,427 | 1,676 |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 157,317 | $ 98,214 |  |  |
Total development co investments [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Total development co investments [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 55.00% |  |  |  |
Folsom 500 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00%
Number of units to be developed | unit |  |  |  |  | 545
Estimated cost active development projects |  |  |  |  | $ 415,000
Active development projects estimated costs to be expended | $ 307,600 |  |  |  |
Remaining estimated cost to be contributed by Company | $ 153,700 |  |  |  |

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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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