Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Properties acquired | property			4
Apartment Units			573
Purchase Price	$ 249,334		$ 249,334
Disposed Properties			92
Apartment Units			28,167
Sales Price			$ 6,699,958
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital			13,798	$ 45,245
Net gain on sales of real estate properties	90,036	$ 66,939	3,870,871	295,692
Net gain (loss) on sales of land parcels	4,037	0	$ 15,759	(1)
Rental Properties – Consolidated
Properties acquired | property			4
Apartment Units			573
Purchase Price	249,334		$ 249,334
Disposed Properties			91
Apartment Units			27,831
Sales Price			$ 6,568,003
Land [Member]
Purchase Price	$ 98,000		$ 98,000
Disposed Land Parcels | property			2
Sales Price			$ 57,455
Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated
Disposed Properties			1
Apartment Units			336
Sales Price			$ 74,500
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.00%		20.00%
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital			$ 12,400
Net gain on sales of real estate properties			8,900
Depreciable Property [Member]
Purchase Price	$ 151,300		$ 151,300
Starwood Portfolio [Member]
Disposed Properties | property			72
Apartment Units			23,262
Sales Price			$ 5,365,000
Net gain on sales of real estate properties	$ (103)	$ 0	$ 3,161,097	$ 0
Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Rental Properties – Consolidated
Disposed Properties | property			72
Apartment Units			23,262