Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we participated in three real estate ventures structured as DownREIT partnerships that have properties in Arkansas, California, North Carolina and Texas. As a general partner, we have operating and financial control over these ventures and consolidate them in our consolidated financial statements. These ventures allow the outside limited partners to put their interest in the partnership to us in exchange for our common shares or an equivalent amount in cash. We may acquire any limited partnership interests that are put to the partnership, and we have the option to redeem the interest in cash or a fixed number of our common shares, at our discretion. We also participate in a real estate venture that has a property in Texas that allows its outside partner to put operating partnership units to us. We have the option to redeem these units in cash or a fixed number of our common shares, at our discretion. No common shares were issued in exchange for any of these interests during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013. The aggregate redemption value of these interests was approximately $47 million and $41 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, we have entered into commitments aggregating $56.5 million comprised principally of construction contracts which are generally due in 12 to 36 months. We issue letters of intent signifying a willingness to negotiate for acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, as well as other types of potential transactions, during the ordinary course of our business. Such letters of intent and other arrangements are non-binding to all parties unless and until a definitive contract is entered into by the parties. Even if definitive contracts relating to the acquisition or disposition of property are entered into, these contracts generally provide the purchaser a time period to evaluate the property and conduct due diligence. The purchaser, during this time, will have the ability to terminate a contract without penalty or forfeiture of any deposit or earnest money. No assurance can be provided that any definitive contracts will be entered into with respect to any matter covered by letters of intent, or that we will consummate any transaction contemplated by a definitive contract. Additionally, due diligence periods for property transactions are frequently extended as needed. An acquisition or disposition of property becomes probable at the time the due diligence period expires and the definitive contract has not been terminated. Our risk is then generally extended only to any earnest money deposits associated with property acquisition contracts, and our obligation to sell under a property sales contract. We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations in the areas where we own or operate properties. We are not aware of any contamination which may have been caused by us or any of our tenants that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. As part of our risk management activities, we have applied and been accepted into state sponsored environmental programs which will limit our expenses if contaminants need to be remediated. We also have an environmental insurance policy that covers us against third party liabilities and remediation costs. While we believe that we do not have any material exposure to environmental remediation costs, we cannot give absolute assurance that changes in the law or new discoveries of contamination will not result in additional liabilities to us. Litigation During 2013, we settled a lawsuit we filed in 2011 against our joint venture partner in connection with a development project in Sheridan, Colorado for an alleged failure of our joint venture partner to repay to us an intercompany note payable. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, our $16.1 million note receivable was paid in exchange for cash and real property totaling $19.1 million, receipt of our partner’s interest in two consolidated joint ventures resulting in an increase of approximately $16.2 million in noncontrolling interests and distribution of our interest in two unconsolidated joint ventures with total assets of $23.2 million. We are also involved in various matters of litigation arising in the normal course of business. While we are unable to predict the amounts involved, our management and counsel are of the opinion that, when such litigation is resolved, any additional liability, if any, will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Commitments and Contingencies

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we participated in three real estate ventures structured as DownREIT partnerships that have properties in Arkansas, California, North Carolina and Texas. As a general partner, we have operating and financial control over these ventures and consolidate them in our consolidated financial statements. These ventures allow the outside limited partners to put their interest in the partnership to us in exchange for our common shares or an equivalent amount in cash. We may acquire any limited partnership interests that are put to the partnership, and we have the option to redeem the interest in cash or a fixed number of our common shares, at our discretion. We also participate in a real estate venture that has a property in Texas that allows its outside partner to put operating partnership units to us. We have the option to redeem these units in cash or a fixed number of our common shares, at our discretion. No common shares were issued in exchange for any of these interests during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013. The aggregate redemption value of these interests was approximately $47 million and $41 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014, we have entered into commitments aggregating $56.5 million comprised principally of construction contracts which are generally due in 12 to 36 months.

We issue letters of intent signifying a willingness to negotiate for acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, as well as other types of potential transactions, during the ordinary course of our business. Such letters of intent and other arrangements are non-binding to all parties unless and until a definitive contract is entered into by the parties. Even if definitive contracts relating to the acquisition or disposition of property are entered into, these contracts generally provide the purchaser a time period to evaluate the property and conduct due diligence. The purchaser, during this time, will have the ability to terminate a contract without penalty or forfeiture of any deposit or earnest money. No assurance can be provided that any definitive contracts will be entered into with respect to any matter covered by letters of intent, or that we will consummate any transaction contemplated by a definitive contract. Additionally, due diligence periods for property transactions are frequently extended as needed. An acquisition or disposition of property becomes probable at the time the due diligence period expires and the definitive contract has not been terminated. Our risk is then generally extended only to any earnest money deposits associated with property acquisition contracts, and our obligation to sell under a property sales contract.

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations in the areas where we own or operate properties. We are not aware of any contamination which may have been caused by us or any of our tenants that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

As part of our risk management activities, we have applied and been accepted into state sponsored environmental programs which will limit our expenses if contaminants need to be remediated. We also have an environmental insurance policy that covers us against third party liabilities and remediation costs.

While we believe that we do not have any material exposure to environmental remediation costs, we cannot give absolute assurance that changes in the law or new discoveries of contamination will not result in additional liabilities to us.

Litigation

During 2013, we settled a lawsuit we filed in 2011 against our joint venture partner in connection with a development project in Sheridan, Colorado for an alleged failure of our joint venture partner to repay to us an intercompany note payable. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, our $16.1 million note receivable was paid in exchange for cash and real property totaling $19.1 million, receipt of our partner’s interest in two consolidated joint ventures resulting in an increase of approximately $16.2 million in noncontrolling interests and distribution of our interest in two unconsolidated joint ventures with total assets of $23.2 million.

We are also involved in various matters of litigation arising in the normal course of business. While we are unable to predict the amounts involved, our management and counsel are of the opinion that, when such litigation is resolved, any additional liability, if any, will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.