Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	$ 52,544	$ 37,926
Liabilities:
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	200,728	196,529
Government-sponsored pooled loan investments(1)
Assets:
Derivative instruments	55,049	63,679
Carrying Amount
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	286,707	53,023
Secured mortgage loans and other	646,972	793,433
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	52,544	37,926
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	11,190,914	11,271,020
Derivative instruments	2,316	2,696
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	177,177	188,546
Carrying Amount \| Government-sponsored pooled loan investments(1)
Assets:
Derivative instruments	55,049	63,679
Carrying Amount \| Derivative instruments
Assets:
Derivative instruments	3,302	0
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	286,707	53,023
Secured mortgage loans and other	655,981	816,849
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	53,626	38,806
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	11,369,440	11,384,880
Derivative instruments	2,316	2,696
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	177,177	188,546
Fair Value \| Government-sponsored pooled loan investments(1)
Assets:
Derivative instruments	55,049	63,679
Fair Value \| Derivative instruments
Assets:
Derivative instruments	$ 3,302	$ 0

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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Carrying amount, attributable to parent and noncontrolling interests, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Derivative instrument obligations meeting the definition of a liability which the entity is a party to and other liabilities not separately disclosed by the entity as of the balance sheet date.

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No definition available.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of secured loans receivable, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder.

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No definition available.

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For an unclassified balance sheet, an unsecured amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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