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Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) community partnership investment shares | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) investment community partnership shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest in operating partnership | 3.40% | 3.40% |  |
Cumulative effect upon adoption | $ 6,183,192 | $ 6,403,504 | $ 6,393,844 | $ 6,396,825
Real Estate Rental Properties [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Minimum threshold useful life of assets for capitalization | 1 year |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Acquired in-place lease value, net | $ 4,700 | $ 1,200 |  |
Number of communities held-for-sale | community | 2 | 0 |  |
Asset impairment charges | $ 1,825 | $ 7,105 | 0 |
Other-than-temporary impairment |  | 11,500 |  |
Revenues and Gains on Sale of Real Estate [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Lease terms, minimum | 9 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 | $ 73,629 | 70,087 | 134,465 |
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted | 10,412 | 11,007 | 16,930 |
Total unrestricted and restricted cash and cash equivalents shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows | 84,041 | 81,094 | 151,395 | 61,126
Capitalization |  |  |  |
Capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects | 31,400 | 42,100 | 37,300 |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |  |
Fixed rate debt carrying amount | 5,500,000 | 5,200,000 |  |
Fixed rate debt fair value | 6,000,000 | 5,400,000 |  |
Variable rate debt carrying amount | 775,100 | 660,400 |  |
Variable rate debt fair value | 770,100 | 655,800 |  |
Mortgage-backed-securities available-for-sale fair value | $ 0 | $ 72,700 |  |
Status of cash dividends distributed |  |  |  |
Number of DownREIT limited partnerships | partnership | 17 | 17 |  |
Number of communities in DownREIT Partnerships | community | 9 | 9 |  |
Number of consolidated co-investments that now meet the definition of a VIE | investment | 5 | 6 |  |
Assets related to VIE, net intercompany eliminations | $ 898,500 | $ 1,000,000 |  |
Liabilities related to VIE, net intercompany eliminations | 326,800 | 364,300 |  |
Noncontrolling interests in VIE | $ 120,800 | $ 122,500 |  |
Total DownREIT units outstanding (in shares) | shares | 1,017,460 | 1,033,907 |  |
Redemption value of the variable interest entities | $ 241,600 | $ 311,100 |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 32,239 | 37,410 | 35,475 | 39,206
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, units of limited partners' interests in DownREIT VIEs | 11,900 | 13,000 |  |
Noncontrolling interest in limited partnerships | 97,400 | 97,700 |  |
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect upon adoption | $ (861,193) | (887,619) | $ (812,796) | $ (833,726)
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect upon adoption |  | 200 |  |
CPPIB |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Asset impairment charges |  | $ 7,100 |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  | 45.00% |  |
Computer Software and Equipment | Minimum |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 3 years |  |  |
Computer Software and Equipment | Maximum |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |
Interior Apartment Home Improvements |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | Minimum |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 5 years |  |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | Maximum |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 10 years |  |  |
Land Improvements and Certain Exterior Components of Real Property |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 10 years |  |  |
Real Estate Structures |  |  |  |
Depreciable life of various categories of fixed assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Depreciable life, average | 30 years |  |  |
Common stock |  |  |  |
Status of cash dividends distributed |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | 85.23% | 83.81% | 79.72% |
Capital gain | 10.68% | 13.78% | 15.35% |
Unrecaptured section 1250 capital gain | 4.09% | 2.41% | 4.93% |
Total cash dividends distributed, percentage | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Mortgage Backed Securities |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |  |  |  |
Mortgage-backed-securities held-to-maturity carrying value | $ 0 | $ 72,651 |  |

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