Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 property state community home
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Number of operating apartment communities owned	244
Number of apartment homes included in operating apartment communities owned	72,811
Number of states where operating apartment communities owned are located	12
Number of communities with apartments under reconstruction	3
Number of apartment homes under reconstruction	1,126
Number of owned communities under construction	29
Expected number of apartment homes under construction	8,708
Communities under development rights	46
Estimated number of apartment homes in communities to be developed	12,986
Period of lease	1 year
Number of land parcels acquired under development rights	4
Buildings and Building Improvements
Real Estate
Capitalization of minimum improvements and upgrades	$ 15,000
Buildings and Building Improvements | Minimum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements	7 years
Buildings and Building Improvements | Maximum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements	30 years
Computers and furniture
Real Estate
Capitalization of minimum improvements and upgrades	$ 2,500
Computers and furniture | Minimum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements	3 years
Computers and furniture | Maximum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements	7 years