FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Carrying Amount
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 86,107	$ 81,355
Derivative Asset	10,072	7,248
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	10,584,000	11,365,633
Derivative instruments	9,119	5,435
Redeemable OP Unitholder Interests	130,999	146,252
Carrying Amount \| Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Assets:
Debt securities, held-to-maturity	466,614	1,291,694
Carrying Amount \| Government-Sponsored Pooled Loan Investments
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	61,237	54,665
Carrying Amount \| Senior unsecured notes
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	208,090	0
Carrying Amount \| Non-Mortgage Loan Receivable
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	50,478	59,857
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, fair value	86,107	81,355
Derivative Asset	10,072	7,248
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, fair value	10,434,164	11,600,750
Derivative instruments	9,119	5,435
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Other, Carrying Amount	130,999	146,252
Fair Value \| Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Assets:
Debt securities, held-to-maturity, fair value	452,646	1,286,322
Fair Value \| Government-Sponsored Pooled Loan Investments
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	61,237	54,665
Fair Value \| Senior unsecured notes
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	208,090	0
Fair Value \| Non-Mortgage Loan Receivable
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, fair value	$ 49,915	$ 58,849

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Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

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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.

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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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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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