Subsequent Events/Other (Details)	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				36 Months Ended
	Feb. 19, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposed Properties | property		8	11
Disposed Units		1,857	3,480
Proceeds From Sale Of Property		$ 513,312,000	$ 592,070,000
Prepayment penalty charges			300,000
Repayments Of Mortgage Notes Payable		9,275,000	11,869,000	$ 12,658,000
Repayments of Notes Payable		300,000,000	1,250,000,000	400,000,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs		1,000,000	400,000	300,000
Noncash Project Abandonment Costs		3,208,000	3,607,000	5,184,000
Other Expenses		4,200,000	4,000,000	5,500,000
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ 6,000,000	$ 2,800,000
Disposal Group Corporate Housing Business Sale					$ 4,000,000
Seller Provided Financing					$ 2,000,000
Proceeds Received From Seller Provided Finanacing				1,500,000
Discontinued Operation Corporate Housing Business Gain Loss On Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Net Of Tax						$ 2,900,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposed Properties	6
Disposed Units	766
Proceeds From Sale Of Property	$ 162,700,000
Disposed Land Parcels	1
Dividends	$ 8.00
Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposed Properties	72
Disposed Units	23,262
Proceeds From Sale Of Property	$ 5,365,000,000
Repayments of Debt	1,700,000,000
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 112,400,000
River Tower [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposed Units	323
Proceeds From Sale Of Property	$ 390,000,000
Woodland Park [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposed Units	1,811
Proceeds From Sale Of Property	$ 412,500,000
6.256% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	29,300,000
Repayments Of Mortgage Notes Payable	$ 440,800,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.256%
Tax-exempt notes [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 200,000
Repayments of Notes Payable	41,800,000
5.125% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 1,400,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.125%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 228,900,000
5.375% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 9,500,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.375%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 400,000,000
5.750% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 16,500,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.75%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 255,900,000
7.125% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 4,600,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.125%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 46,100,000
4.625% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 31,600,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.625%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 250,000,000
7.570% [Domain] | Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Prepayment penalty charges	$ 19,300,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.57%
Repayments of Notes Payable	$ 48,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
(Gains) on Sale of Securities, Net				$ 2,100,000