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Significant Transactions During The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and Subsequent Events (Details) |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |
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Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) apartment | Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($) apartment investment | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($) apartment | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) community | Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($) extension | Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) apartment community | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares | Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) investment shares | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2020 community | Sep. 30, 2020 apartment | May 31, 2020 USD ($) | Feb. 29, 2020 USD ($)
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  | $ 0 | $ 234,694,000 | $ 31,535,000 |  |  |  |
Revenue from disposition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,347,000 |  |  | 2,428,000 | 7,312,000 | 7,023,000 |  |  |  |
Number of apartment units | apartment | 115 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Apartment communities owned (in communities) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 247 | 1 |  |
Number of preferred equity method investments | investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments to acquire equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,500,000 |  | $ 91,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred return rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.00% |  | 11.30% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funding amount to commitment of investment in mezzanine loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,431,000 | 140,663,000 |  |  |  |
Prepayment penalties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,605,000 | 0 |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | 2032 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt offering price, percentage of par value |  |  |  |  |  | 105.66% |  |  |  |  | 105.66% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reoffer yield percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 2.093% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | 2031 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt offering price, percentage of par value |  |  |  | 99.035% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | 2050 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt offering price, percentage of par value |  |  |  | 99.691% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | 2022 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  | $ 300,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt coupon rate |  |  |  | 3.625% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prepayment penalties |  |  |  | $ 19,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unsecured Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of extension options (in extensions) | extension |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extension period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased during period (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 121,260 | 87,988 | 776,261 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased during period, value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 26,600,000 | $ 20,100,000 | $ 176,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase authority remaining under stock repurchase plan | $ 203,300,000 |  | $ 203,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 203,300,000 |  |  |  | 203,300,000 |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase plan amount | 250,000,000.0 |  | 250,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 250,000,000.0 |  |  |  | 250,000,000.0 |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000.0 |
CPPIB interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of property held by acquired investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 234,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Promote income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Joint venture that holds property in Los Angeles, CA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from partial redemption of co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Early redemption fee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred Equity Investment Property In Southern California |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from partial redemption of co-investment |  |  | $ 10,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Located in Anaheim, California |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from redemption of notes receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Multifamily Development Communities in Los Angeles, California |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, commitment to fund, amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 15,000,000.0 |  |  |  | $ 15,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.50% |  |  |  | 10.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, term of extension option |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funding amount to commitment of investment in mezzanine loan | 7,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Multifamily Development Communities in Sacramento, California |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, commitment to fund, amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 29,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, term of extension option |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Funding amount to commitment of investment in mezzanine loan | $ 12,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Apartment Building | CPPIB interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of communities held by acquired investment | community |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units held by acquired investment | apartment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 | 234,694,000 | 31,535,000 |  |  |  |
Revenue from disposition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,347,000 |  |  | $ 2,428,000 | 7,312,000 | 7,023,000 |  |  |  |
Funding amount to commitment of investment in mezzanine loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,431,000 | 140,663,000 |  |  |  |
Prepayment penalties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 19,605,000 | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  | 600,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Senior Notes | 2032 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0
Debt coupon rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.65%
Debt offering price, percentage of par value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 99.628%
Repayments of secured debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Senior Notes | 2031 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  | $ 300,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt coupon rate |  |  |  | 1.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Senior Notes | 2050 Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issued |  |  |  | $ 300,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt coupon rate |  |  |  | 2.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Affiliated Entity | Related party bridge loan - Wesco V |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from redemption of notes receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 85,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LIBOR | Unsecured Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
One South Market and Museum Park |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from disposition |  |  |  |  |  | $ 232,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of properties |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
One South Market and Museum Park | Apartment Building |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units sold | community |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Delano, Redmond, WA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from disposition |  |  |  |  | $ 51,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of properties |  |  |  |  | $ 22,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Delano, Redmond, WA | Apartment Building |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment units | apartment |  |  |  |  | 126 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of preferred equity method investments | investment |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments to acquire equity method investment |  | $ 46,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred return rate |  | 10.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Glendale, CA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from disposition |  | $ 60,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Glendale, CA | Apartment Building |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of apartment units | apartment |  | 115 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Amount of cash outflow for cost from early extinguishment and prepayment of debt. Includes, but is not limited to, third-party cost, premium paid, and other fee paid to lender directly for debt extinguishment or debt prepayment. Excludes accrued interest. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow to acquire an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among myriad other features and characteristics. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt secured debt. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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