Consolidation and Basis of Presentation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2014 Apartment_Homes Markets	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of markets operating within	20
Number of apartments owned	39,851
Joint venture, number of homes in communities	10,055
Operating Partnership outstanding units	183,278,698	183,278,698
OP units outstanding related to limited partner	183,278,698	183,278,698	184,281,254	184,281,254
General Partner [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation (Textual) [Abstract]
OP units outstanding related to limited partner	174,113,225	173,959,774
Percentage of units outstanding owned by limited partners		94.90%
Limited Partner [Member]
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of units outstanding owned by limited partners	95.00%
Non-affiliated Partners
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation (Textual) [Abstract]
OP units outstanding related to limited partner	9,165,473	9,318,924
Percentage of units outstanding owned by limited partners	5.00%	5.10%