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Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets | The depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets is as follows:
Computer software and equipment | 3 - 5 years
Interior apartment home improvements | 5 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | 5 - 10 years
Land improvements and certain exterior components of real property | 10 years
Real estate structures | 30 years
Schedule of restricted cash reconciliation | The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows ($ in thousands):
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
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 |
Schedule of cash and cash equivalents reconciliation | The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows ($ in thousands):
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
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 |
Components of marketable securities | As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 marketable securities consist of the following ($ in thousands):
| December 31, 2018
| Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Carrying Value
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |
Investment funds - debt securities | $ | 31,934 |  |  | $ | (568 | ) |  | $ | 31,366 |
Investment funds - U.S. treasuries | 8,983 |  |  | (31 | ) |  | 8,952 |
Common stock and stock funds | 39,731 |  |  | (1,671 | ) |  | 38,060 |
Debt securities: |  |  |  |  |
Available for sale |  |  |  |  |
Investment-grade unsecured bonds | 4,125 |  |  | (145 | ) |  | 3,980 |
Held to maturity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage backed securities | 127,187 |  |  | — |  |  | 127,187 |
Total - Marketable securities | $ | 211,960 |  |  | $ | (2,415 | ) |  | $ | 209,545 |
| December 31, 2017
| Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss) |  | Carrying Value
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |
Investment funds - debt securities | $ | 27,914 |  |  | $ | (29 | ) |  | $ | 27,885 |
Investment funds - U.S. treasuries | 10,999 |  |  | (55 | ) |  | 10,944 |
Common stock and stock funds | 34,329 |  |  | 2,973 |  |  | 37,302 |
Debt securities: |  |  |  |  |
Available for sale |  |  |  |  |
Investment-grade unsecured bonds | 4,365 |  |  | (40 | ) |  | 4,325 |
Held to maturity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage backed securities | 109,548 |  |  | — |  |  | 109,548 |
Total - Marketable securities | $ | 187,155 |  |  | $ | 2,849 |  |  | $ | 190,004 |
Status of cash dividends distributed | The status of cash dividends distributed for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 related to common stock and Series H preferred stock are classified for tax purposes as follows:
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Common Stock |  |  |  |  |
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 | %
| 100.00 | % |  | 100.00 | % |  | 100.00 | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Series H Preferred stock |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | — | % |  | — | % |  | 86.68 | %
Capital gains | — | % |  | — | % |  | 7.11 | %
Unrecaptured section 1250 capital gain | — | % |  | — | % |  | 6.21 | %
| — | % |  | — | % |  | 100.00 | %
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net by component | Essex Property Trust, Inc. ($ in thousands)
| Change in fair value and amortization of swap settlements |  | Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities |  | Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | (20,641 | ) |  | $ | 2,195 |  |  | $ | (18,446 | )
Cumulative effect upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 | — |  |  | (2,234 | ) |  | (2,234 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification | 15,343 |  |  | (114 | ) |  | 15,229 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | (7,779 | ) |  | 13 |  |  | (7,766 | )
Other comprehensive income | 7,564 |  |  | (2,335 | ) |  | 5,229 |
Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | (13,077 | ) |  | $ | (140 | ) |  | $ | (13,217 | )
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests | The changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 is as follows:
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Balance at January 1, | $ | 39,206 |  |  | $ | 44,684 |  |  | $ | 45,452 |
Reclassifications due to change in redemption value and other | 1,164 |  |  | 65 |  |  | (768 | )
Redemptions | (4,895 | ) |  | (5,543 | ) |  | — |
Balance at December 31, | $ | 35,475 |  |  | $ | 39,206 |  |  | $ | 44,684 |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] |
Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net by component | Essex Portfolio, L.P. ($ in thousands)
| Change in fair value and amortization of swap settlements |  | Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities |  | Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | (17,417 | ) |  | $ | 2,188 |  |  | $ | (15,229 | )
Cumulative effect upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 | — |  |  | (2,228 | ) |  | (2,228 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification | 15,871 |  |  | (118 | ) |  | 15,753 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | (8,047 | ) |  | 13 |  |  | (8,034 | )
Other comprehensive income | 7,824 |  |  | (2,333 | ) |  | 5,491 |
Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | (9,593 | ) |  | $ | (145 | ) |  | $ | (9,738 | )

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