FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 148,063	$ 72,277
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	62,852	54,164
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	227,947	206,442
Liabilities:
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, gross	12,140,420	10,829,702
Redeemable OP Units, fair value	218,500	174,600
Non-Mortgage Loan Receivable
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	62,852	54,164
Non-mortgage loans receivable, fair value	62,952	54,081
Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Assets:
Debt securities, held-to-maturity	653,691	439,491
Debt securities, held-to-maturity, fair value	653,656	425,290
Government-Sponsored Pooled Loan Investments
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	56,023	56,378
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	148,063	72,277
Derivative instruments	1,462	6,012
Liabilities:
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, gross	12,140,420	10,829,702
Derivative instruments	14,832	4,561
Redeemable OP Units, carrying amount	218,515	174,552
Carrying Value \| Non-Mortgage Loan Receivable
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net	62,852	54,164
Carrying Value \| Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Assets:
Debt securities, held-to-maturity	653,691	439,491
Carrying Value \| Marketable debt securities
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	227,947	206,442
Carrying Value \| Government-Sponsored Pooled Loan Investments
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	56,023	56,378
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, fair value	148,063	72,277
Derivative instruments	1,462	6,012
Liabilities:
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, fair value	12,709,558	10,617,074
Derivative instruments	14,832	4,561
Redeemable OP Units, fair value	218,515	174,552
Fair Value \| Non-Mortgage Loan Receivable
Assets:
Non-mortgage loans receivable, fair value	62,952	54,081
Fair Value \| Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Assets:
Debt securities, held-to-maturity, fair value	653,656	425,290
Fair Value \| Marketable debt securities
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	227,947	206,442
Fair Value \| Government-Sponsored Pooled Loan Investments
Assets:
Debt securities, available-for-sale, carrying value	$ 56,023	$ 56,378

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