Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 107,601	$ 109,391	$ 138,653	$ 118,016	$ 108,555	$ 127,470	$ 133,139	$ 120,624	$ 473,661	$ 489,788	$ 308,814
Discontinued operations	(411)	(259)	(255)	3,031	(115)	(9,174)	(18,559)	(8,431)	2,106	(36,279)	53,986
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 107,190	$ 109,132	$ 138,398	$ 121,047	$ 108,440	$ 118,296	$ 114,580	$ 112,193	$ 475,767	$ 453,509	$ 362,800
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares									294,175,000	292,654,000	292,064,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options (in shares)									495,000	534,000	496,000
Restricted stock awards (in shares)									55,000	99,000	92,000
OP units (in shares)									1,952,000	1,823,000	1,836,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares									296,677,000	295,110,000	294,488,000
Basic earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.37	$ 0.47	$ 0.40	$ 0.37	$ 0.43	$ 0.45	$ 0.41	$ 1.61	$ 1.67	$ 1.06
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.01	$ (0.12)	$ 0.18
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.37us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.41us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.37us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.40us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.39us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.38us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.62us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.55us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.24us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.37	$ 0.47	$ 0.40	$ 0.37	$ 0.43	$ 0.45	$ 0.41	$ 1.59	$ 1.66	$ 1.05
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.01	$ (0.12)	$ 0.18
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.37us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.41us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.37us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.40us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.39us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.38us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.60us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.54us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.23us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Anti-dilutive options outstanding (in shares)									479,291	504,815	372,440

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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