Real Estate Investments - Sales of Real Estate Investments (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) apartment	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) apartment community	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) apartment land_parcel
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Total property revenues		$ 11,131	$ 11,139	$ 9,138
Gain (loss) on sale of properties			$ 94,400	143,000
Number of communities held by acquired investment | community			2
Proceeds from sale of real estate			$ 160,000	$ 330,000
Number of land parcels sold | land_parcel				4
Repayments of debt				$ 29,700
Apartment Building
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of apartment units | apartment		239	250	912
Total property revenues		$ 91,700
Number of communities held by acquired investment | community			1
Number of units acquired | apartment		73
Purchase price		$ 23,100
Apartment Building | CBC And The Sweeps
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of apartment units | apartment		239
Total property revenues		$ 91,700
Gain (loss) on sale of properties		$ 54,500
Apartment Building | Hacienda at Camarillo Oaks
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units acquired | apartment		73
Essex ownership percentage		100.00%
Purchase price		$ 23,100
Land
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Total property revenues	$ 8,700
Gain (loss) on sale of properties	$ 4,700