Related Party Transactions (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) apartment	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) apartment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) apartment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management and other fees from affiliates					$ 3,300	$ 5,700
Development and redevelopment fees					1,300	3,100
Payments to acquire preferred equity investments					50,591	48,650
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments					$ (7,435)	$ 0
Apartment units owned | apartment					59,441
Notes and other receivables					$ 18,198		$ 19,285
Notes Receivable [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables					3,522		$ 3,092
Marcus and Millichamp Company TMMC Affiliate [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred equity interest investment related party entity				$ 8,600
Proceeds from redemption of preferred equity interest			$ 500
Anaheim, CA Multifamily Property [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred equity investments					13,700
Payments to acquire preferred equity investments			$ 1,300
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments					$ 13,700
Preferred stock, stated interest percentage			9.00%
Greentree Apartments [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments to acquire preferred equity investments		$ 10,000
Preferred stock, stated interest percentage		9.50%
Apartment units owned | apartment		220
Sterling Cove [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments to acquire preferred equity investments		$ 5,000
Preferred stock, stated interest percentage		9.50%
Apartment units owned | apartment		218
Alta Vista Apartments [Member] | Limited Liability Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments to acquire preferred equity investments	$ 5,000
Preferred stock, stated interest percentage	9.50%
Apartment units owned | apartment	92