CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Real estate investments:
Land and improvements	$ 2,089,591	$ 2,056,428
Buildings and improvements	21,516,396	20,309,599
Construction in progress	210,599	92,005
Acquired lease intangibles	1,510,629	1,344,422
Gross real estate investment	25,327,215	23,802,454
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(4,932,461)	(4,177,234)
Net real estate property	20,394,754	19,625,220
Secured loans receivable and investments, net	702,021	857,112
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	95,921	95,707
Net real estate investments	21,192,696	20,578,039
Cash and cash equivalents	286,707	53,023
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	80,647	77,896
Goodwill	1,033,225	1,047,497
Assets held for sale	54,961	93,060
Other assets	518,364	412,403
Total assets	23,166,600	22,261,918
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	11,127,326	11,206,996
Accrued interest	83,762	80,864
Accounts payable and other liabilities	907,928	779,380
Liabilities related to assets held for sale	1,462	34,340
Deferred income taxes	316,641	338,382
Total liabilities	12,437,119	12,439,962
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	200,728	196,529
Commitments and contingencies
Ventas stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, unissued	0	0
Common stock, $0.25 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 354,125 and 334,386 shares issued at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	88,514	83,579
Capital in excess of par value	12,917,002	11,602,838
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(57,534)	(7,565)
Retained earnings (deficit)	(2,487,695)	(2,111,958)
Treasury stock, 1 and 44 shares at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	(47)	(2,567)
Total Ventas stockholders’ equity	10,460,240	9,564,327
Noncontrolling interest	68,513	61,100
Total equity	10,528,753	9,625,427
Total liabilities and equity	$ 23,166,600	$ 22,261,918