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Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) community investment partnership shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) community shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property | Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Buildings and improvements | $ 10,664,745 | $ 10,643,009 |  |  |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | $ 39,439 | $ 39,155 |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest in Operating Partnership | 3.40% | 3.40% |  |  |
Real Estate Rental Properties [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Threshold useful life of assets for capitalization | 1 year |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired in-place lease value, net | $ 100 | $ 400 |  |  |
Number of communities held-for-sale | community | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Revenues and Gains on Sale of Real Estate [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Lease terms, minimum | 6 months |  |  |  |
Lease terms, maximum | 12 months |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Original maturities of highly liquid investments to be classified as cash equivalents, maximum | 3 months |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted | $ 134,465 | $ 44,620 | $ 64,921 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted | 16,930 | 16,506 | 105,381 |  |
Total unrestricted and restricted cash and cash equivalents shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows | 151,395 | 61,126 | 170,302 |  | $ 123,055
Capitalization |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects | 18,600 | 18,800 | $ 16,400 |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |  |  |
Fixed rate debt, carrying amount | 5,000,000 | 4,900,000 |  |  |
Fixed rate debt, fair value | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 |  |  |
Variable rate debt, carrying amount | 619,600 | 799,200 |  |  |
Variable rate debt, fair value | 615,200 | 793,900 |  |  |
Mortgage-backed-securities, available-for-sale, fair value | 129,500 | 120,700 |  |  |
Investments, Owned, Federal Income Tax Note [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of properties disposed | property |  |  | 2 |  |
Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land | $ 0 | 0 | $ 4,410 |  |
Tax cuts and jobs act of 2017, change in tax rate |  | 1,500 |  |  |
Status of cash dividends distributed |  |  |  |  |
Number of DownREIT limited partnerships | partnership | 16 |  |  |  |
Number of communities in DownREIT Partnerships | community | 8 |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated co-investments that now meet the definition of a VIE | investment | 8 |  |  |  |
Assets related to VIE, net intercompany eliminations | $ 849,800 | 837,700 |  |  |
Liabilities related to VIE, net intercompany eliminations | 261,700 | 265,500 |  |  |
NCI in VIE | $ 64,500 | $ 66,700 |  |  |
Total DownREIT units outstanding (in shares) | shares | 912,269 | 917,593 |  |  |
Redemption value of the variable interest entities | $ 223,700 | $ 221,500 |  |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 35,475 | 39,206 | $ 44,684 |  | $ 45,452
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, units of limited partners' interests in DownREIT VIEs | 14,500 | 13,600 |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest in limited partnerships | $ 32,400 | 32,400 |  |  |
Computer software and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 3 years |  |  |  |
Computer software and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |  |
Interior apartment home improvements [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 10 years |  |  |  |
Land improvements and certain exterior components of real property [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 10 years |  |  |  |
Real estate structures [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 30 years |  |  |  |
ASU 2017-05 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative adjustment to retained earnings |  | 123,708 |  |  |
ASU 2014-09 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Forecast |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Right-of-use asset |  |  |  | $ 85,000 |
Operating lease, liability |  |  |  | $ 85,000 |
Reclassification [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Buildings and improvements |  | 13,200 |  |  |
Prepaid expenses and other assets |  | $ (13,200) |  |  |
Common Stock [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Status of cash dividends distributed |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | 79.72% | 84.04% | 86.68% |  |
Capital gain | 15.35% | 13.20% | 7.11% |  |
Unrecaptured section 1250 capital gain | 4.93% | 2.76% | 6.21% |  |
Total cash dividends distributed, percentage | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |
Series H Preferred Stock [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Status of cash dividends distributed |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | 0.00% | 0.00% | 86.68% |  |
Capital gain | 0.00% | 0.00% | 7.11% |  |
Unrecaptured section 1250 capital gain | 0.00% | 0.00% | 6.21% |  |
Total cash dividends distributed, percentage | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |  |

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