CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 686,372	$ 895,274
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense	606,271	607,746
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	9,450	8,102
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	150	1,646
Amortization of stock-based compensation	21,849	26,774
Equity in loss (income) of, and return on, unconsolidated investments and noncontrolling interests, net of eliminations	2,895	(4,180)
Casualty loss	4,173	0
Abandonment of development pursuits	23,212	4,069
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,062	3,039
Gain on sale of real estate assets	(210,409)	(507,763)
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,206)	(22,511)
Increase in accrued expenses, other liabilities and accrued interest payable	72,023	68,244
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,213,842	1,080,440
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development/redevelopment of real estate assets including land acquisitions and deferred development costs	(691,543)	(681,937)
Acquisition of real estate assets	(83,348)	(459,695)
Capital expenditures - existing real estate assets	(121,644)	(117,812)
Capital expenditures - non-real estate assets	(13,116)	(5,667)
Increase in payables for construction	22,956	8,863
Proceeds from sale of real estate and for-sale condominiums, net of selling costs	359,477	879,828
Note receivable lending	(47,616)	(15,584)
Note receivable payments	230	4,021
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	5,385	50,990
Unconsolidated investments	(13,645)	(11,496)
Net cash used in investing activities	(582,864)	(348,489)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net	494,810	1,962
Repurchase of common stock, net	(1,911)	0
Dividends paid	(688,486)	(667,393)
Proceeds From (Repayments of) Long-term Line of Credit And Commercial Paper	69,989	49,985
Repayments of mortgage notes payable, including prepayment penalties	(45,700)	(43,131)
Repayment of unsecured notes	(400,000)	(100,000)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(662)	(11,953)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest and units for cash by minority partners	(1,355)	0
Payments to noncontrolling interest	0	(38)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation	(10,529)	(16,872)
Distributions to DownREIT partnership unitholders	(25)	(36)
Distributions to joint venture and profit-sharing partners	(308)	(277)
Preferred interest obligation redemption and dividends	(940)	(860)
Net cash used in financing activities	(585,117)	(788,613)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	45,861	(56,662)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	734,245	543,788
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	780,106	487,126
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amount capitalized	130,680	144,833
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	508,571	200,999
Restricted cash	271,535	286,127
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	$ 780,106	$ 487,126