Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) property	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Properties acquired | property	3
Apartment Units	479
Purchase Price	$ 204,134
Disposed Properties | property	80
Apartment Units	26,162
Sales Price	$ 6,342,408
Net gain on sales of real estate properties	3,723,479	$ 79,951
Net gain (loss) on sales of land parcels	$ 11,722	(1)
Rental Properties – Consolidated (1)
Properties acquired | property	3
Apartment Units	479
Purchase Price	$ 204,134
Disposed Properties | property	80
Apartment Units	26,162
Sales Price	$ 6,314,953
Land [Member]
Disposed Land Parcels | property	2
Sales Price	$ 27,455
Depreciable Property [Member] | Rental Properties – Consolidated (1)
Purchase Price	123,200
Land [Member] | Rental Properties – Consolidated (1)
Purchase Price	$ 80,900
Starwood Portfolio [Member]
Disposed Properties | property	72
Apartment Units	23,262
Sales Price	$ 5,365,000
Net gain on sales of real estate properties	$ 3,161,221	$ 0
Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Rental Properties – Consolidated (1)
Disposed Properties | property	72
Apartment Units	23,262