CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community home	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) community building	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan (in shares) | shares			2,396			2,142	2,434
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan				$ 424		$ 372	$ 335
Number of shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities | shares			53,453			45,090	55,523
Shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities, value				8,356		$ 5,979	$ 4,746
Number of shares forfeited | shares			4,262
Shares cancelled upon forfeiture				694		726	2,938
Common stock dividends declared but not paid	$ 185,397	$ 185,397	$ 185,397	185,397	$ 185,397	171,257	153,207
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(1,489)		(965)	(3,709)
Increase (Decrease) in Derivative Assets				12,085
Income (loss) on cash flow hedges				(5,556)		5,354	(121)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings				6,433		5,774	6,237
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net				(3,935)		(10,542)	0
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	$ 39,015	$ 39,015	$ 39,015	$ 39,015	$ 39,015	$ 39,019
Noncontrolling interests derecognition							$ (17,816)
Number of owned communities under construction | community	27	27	27	27	27
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Converted From Performance Shares [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares) | shares			197,018			157,779	115,163
Restricted Stock Converted From Performance Shares [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares) | shares			115,618			95,826	16,209
Restricted stock
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares) | shares			81,400			61,953	98,954
Fair value of shares issued				$ 13,217		$ 10,720	$ 12,799
Number of shares forfeited | shares			4,262			1,529	7,970
Accumulated earnings less dividends
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(1,489)		$ (2,053)	$ (3,709)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Income (loss) on cash flow hedges				(5,556)		5,354	(121)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings				6,433		5,774	$ 6,237
Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member] | Non Employee Director [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Fair value of shares issued				3,894		3,552
Avalon at Edgewater [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net				(8,702)		(15,538)
Avalon Bloomfield Station
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Capital Leased Assets, Gross						3,299
New England [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net						4,195
New England [Member] | Avalon at Edgewater [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net						$ 26,039
Non Employee Director [Member] | Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares) | shares			44,327			46,589
Secured notes | Notes Payable Maturities 2020 [Member] | Avalon Hoboken [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Assumed principal amount of indebtedness									$ 67,904
Secured notes | Notes Payable Maturities 2019 [Member] | Avalon Columbia Pike [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Assumed principal amount of indebtedness								$ 70,507
West Hollywood Affordable [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Number of apartment buildings sold	1				1
Number of Apartment Homes Sold | home		77
Accounts Receivable, Net	$ 18,643	$ 18,643	$ 18,643	$ 18,643	$ 18,643
Development Communities [Member] | Avalon West Hollywood [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Number of owned communities under construction | community	1	1	1	1	1