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Real Estate Investments Real Estate Investments - Acquisitions And Sales Of Real Estate (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community unit
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of units acquired | unit | 753 |
Purchase Price | $ 333.7 |
Land and Land Improvements [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Purchase Price | 72.4 |
Building and Building Improvements [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Purchase Price | 259.3 |
Leases, Acquired-in-Place [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Purchase Price | $ 2.0 |
Mio Apartment Community [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of units acquired | unit | 103 |
Purchase Price | $ 51.3 |
Essex Ownership Percentage | 100.00% |
Form 15 [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of units acquired | unit | 242 |
Purchase Price | $ 97.4 |
Essex Ownership Percentage | 100.00% |
Emerson Valley Village [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of units acquired | unit | 144 |
Purchase Price | $ 67.0 |
Essex Ownership Percentage | 100.00% |
Ashton Sherman Village [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of units acquired | unit | 264 |
Purchase Price | $ 118.0 |
Essex Ownership Percentage | 100.00% |
Apartment Building [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Number of communities acquired | community | 4 | 7
Number of units acquired | unit | 753 | 1,722
Purchase Price | $ 333.7 | $ 638.1

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