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Real Estate Investments - Sales of Real Estate Investments (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) unit | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) unit | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) community unit | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community unit
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ 1,400,053 | $ 1,363,899 | $ 1,294,001
Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 4,410
Palo Alto, CA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from sale of headquarters building | $ 18,000 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of corporate headquarters | $ 9,600 |  |  |  |  |
Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ 1,390,870 | $ 1,354,325 | $ 1,285,723
Communities Sold In 2018 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of communities sold | community |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Number of units sold | unit |  |  |  | 669 |  |
Gain on sale of properties |  |  |  | $ 61,900 |  |
Gain on sale of real estate |  |  |  | 61,900 |  |
Communities Sold In 2018 [Member] | Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ 352,000 |  |
Domain [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units sold | unit |  |  | 379 |  |  |
Essex Ownership Percentage |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |
Gain on sale of real estate |  |  | $ 22,300 |  |  |
Domain [Member] | Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  | $ 132,000 |  |  |
Eighth And Hope [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units sold | unit |  | 290 |  |  |  |
Essex Ownership Percentage |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of real estate |  | $ 39,600 |  |  |  |
Eighth And Hope [Member] | Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  | $ 220,000 |  |  |  |
Communities Sold In 2017 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of communities sold | community |  |  |  |  | 1 |
Number of units sold | unit |  |  |  |  | 270 |
Gain on sale of properties |  |  |  |  | $ 26,200 |
Communities Sold In 2017 [Member] | Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  | $ 132,500 |
Communities Sold In 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of communities sold | community |  |  |  |  |  | 3
Number of units sold | unit |  |  |  |  |  | 323
Gain on sale of properties |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14,000
Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land |  |  |  |  |  | 4,400
Communities Sold In 2016 [Member] | Rental and other property [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  | $ 80,800

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- Definition The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
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