Real Estate Investments - Schedule of Co-Investment (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025 USD ($) community	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) property
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Co-investments	$ 531,713	$ 855,741
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	$ 98,837	$ 79,273
Apartment communities owned (in communities)	259	13
Total operating and other co-investments, net
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Co-investments	$ 304,371	$ 379,463
Wesco I, Wesco III, Wesco IV, Wesco V and Wesco VI
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Weighted Average Essex Ownership Percentage	54.00%
Co-investments	$ 73,002	147,232
BEXAEW, BEX II, BEX IV, and 500 Folsom
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Weighted Average Essex Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Co-investments	$ 135,518	146,142
Other
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Weighted Average Essex Ownership Percentage	53.00%
Co-investments	$ 95,851	86,089
Total preferred interest co-investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Co-investments	227,342	476,278
Total preferred interest co-investments | Investments in Majority-Owned Subsidiaries
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Co-investments	52,800	48,100
Wesco I, Wesco III, and Wesco IV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	$ 98,800	$ 79,300