Real Estate Assets, Net - Components of Single-Family Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Single-family properties in operation, net	$ 8,040,577		$ 8,020,597
Development land	140,583		97,207
Single-family properties under development	64,463		56,444
Single-family properties held for sale, net	297,317		318,327
Total real estate assets, net	8,542,940		8,492,575
Single Family Homes
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Total real estate assets, net	8,542,940		8,492,575
Rents from single-family properties	277,694	$ 218,023
Fees from single-family properties	0	2,833
Tenant charge-backs	0	35,807
Rents and other single-family property revenues	277,694	$ 256,663
Single Family Homes | Single-family properties recently acquired
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Single-family properties in operation, net	99,899		212,870
Single Family Homes | Single-family properties in turnover process
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Single-family properties in operation, net	231,861		294,093
Single Family Homes | Occupied single-family properties
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Single-family properties in operation, net	7,628,516		7,448,330
Single Family Homes | Single-family properties leased, not yet occupied
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease
Single-family properties in operation, net	$ 80,301		$ 65,304