SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	May 10, 2013 Subsequent event	Apr. 26, 2013 Corporate loan secured by cross collateralized mortgages Subsequent event property item	Mar. 31, 2013 Prior loans property	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving credit facility, (the "Facility")	Mar. 31, 2013 Rouse Properties, Inc. (Rouse) Redemption of debt 6.75% notes due November 9, 2015 Subsequent event	Apr. 02, 2013 Rouse Properties, Inc. (Rouse) Redemption of debt 6.75% notes due November 9, 2015 Subsequent event
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Fixed-rate debt						$ 15,254,834,000		$ 14,954,601,000						$ 608,700,000
Interest rate (as a percent)													6.75%
Debt extinguishment costs													20,500,000
Amount of loan obtained										1,500,000,000
Number of properties subject to collateralized debt										16	16
Variable rate basis						LIBOR				LIBOR		LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)										2.50%
Term to maturity										3 years	3 years 3 months 18 days
Number of extensions to maturity date										2
Period of extension option										1 year
Weighted average, interest rate (as percent)											3.98%
Proceeds from issuance of loan										$ 180,000,000
Common stock dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.12	$ 0.10		$ 0.12
Preferred stock dividends declared (in dollars per share)									$ 0.3984