CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total stockholders' equity	Preferred stock	Common stock	Preferred stock and paid in capital	Common stock and paid in capital	Distributions in excess of net income	Noncontrolling interests	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 5,385,447			$ 609,363	$ 5,767,878	$ (991,794)	$ 35,911	$ 5,421,358
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		25,150,000	207,485,073
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	270,635					270,635	1,305	271,940
Distributions paid and payable	(519,790)					(519,790)	(1,839)	(521,629)
Share issuances, net of costs	685,877				685,877			685,877
Share issuances, net of costs (in shares)			17,327,166
Redemption of common units	1,032				1,032		(1,032)
Redemption of common units (in shares)			35,000
Reallocation of equity	6,647				6,647		(6,647)
Preferred shares redeemed	(220,000)			(213,985)		(6,015)		(220,000)
Preferred shares redeemed (in shares)		(8,800,000)
Share-based compensation, net	3,553				3,553			3,553
Share-based compensation, net (in shares)			33,953
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	5,613,401			395,378	6,464,987	(1,246,964)	27,698	5,641,099
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		16,350,000	224,881,192
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	283,766					283,766	1,089	284,855
Distributions paid and payable	(567,012)					(567,012)	(1,652)	(568,664)
Share issuances, net of costs	1,190,006				1,190,006			1,190,006
Share issuances, net of costs (in shares)			25,322,655
Redemption of common units	4,347				4,347		(4,347)
Redemption of common units (in shares)			168,182
Reallocation of equity	1,051				1,051		(1,051)
Share-based compensation, net	6,037				6,037			6,037
Share-based compensation, net (in shares)			44,728
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	6,531,596			395,378	7,666,428	(1,530,210)	21,737	6,553,333
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		16,350,000	250,416,757
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	315,571					315,571	906	316,477
Distributions paid and payable	(642,529)					(642,529)	(12,682)	(655,211)
Share issuances, net of costs	557,636				557,636			557,636
Share issuances, net of costs (in shares)			9,449,167
Contributions by noncontrolling interests							15,906	15,906
Redemption of common units	(2,865)				(2,865)		(6,161)	(9,026)
Redemption of common units (in shares)			103,182
Reallocation of equity	(543)				(543)		543
Share-based compensation, net	7,938				7,938			7,938
Share-based compensation, net (in shares)			199,153
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 6,766,804			$ 395,378	$ 8,228,594	$ (1,857,168)	$ 20,249	$ 6,787,053
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		16,350,000	260,168,259