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Real Estate Investments - Preferred Equity Investments and Real Estate Under Development (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) | May 31, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) unit joint_venture project | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  |  |  |  | $ 20,400 |  | $ 13,700 | $ 1,161,275 | $ 1,036,047 |
Payments to acquire additional investments |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,300 |  |  |
Payments to acquire equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,300 | 183,989 | 127,879 | $ 246,006
Gain on disposal of equity method investment |  |  |  |  | $ 1,500 |  |  | $ 13,046 | 0 | $ 6,558
Number of development projects | project |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Ownership interests, number of active development projects | project |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Real Estate Under Development Activities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interests, number of active development projects | joint_venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |
Real Estate predevelopment projects [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units to be developed | unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,223 |  |
Estimated cost active development projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000 |  |
Active development projects estimated costs to be expended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 704,000 |  |
Remaining estimated cost to be contributed by Company |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 528,000 |  |
Total preferred interest investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 222,053 | $ 106,312 |
Preferred interest in a related party limited liability company that owns Madison Park at Anaheim with a preferred return of 9% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,700 |  |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.00% |  |  |
Greentree Apartments [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  | 9.50% |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000 |  |  |  |
Sterling Cove [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  | 9.50% |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000 |  |  |  |
Alta Vista Apartments [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  | 9.50% |  |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire equity method investments |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Limited Liability Company Located In Glendale, CA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  |  |  | $ 47,100 |  |  |  | 47,100 |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  |  |  | 12.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Limited Liability Company Located In Seattle, WA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  |  | $ 23,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, initial (as a percent) |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, initial measurement period |  |  | 30 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, subsequent (as a percent) |  |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Limited Liability Company Located In Santa Ana, CA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment |  | $ 11,600 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,600 |  |
Cumulative dividend rate (in hundredths) |  | 12.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Limited Liability Company Located In San Jose, CA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 23,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, initial (as a percent) | 11.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, subsequent (as a percent) | 9.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Limited Liability Company Located In Redmond, WA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Co-investment | $ 10,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, initial (as a percent) | 11.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, initial measurement period | 30 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compounded preferred return rate, subsequent (as a percent) | 9.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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