CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Cumulative Dividends In Excess Of Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Stockholders’ Equity	Total Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,746,317	$ 465,488	$ 11,647,039	$ (2,738,414)	$ (30,470)	$ 9,343,643	$ 402,674
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		465,488
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	578,626			569,086		569,086	9,540
Other comprehensive income (loss)	306				306	306
Issuance of common stock, net	55,711	$ 2,290	53,421			55,711
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		2,290
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock		$ 145	5,948			6,093	(6,093)
Conversion of DownREIT units (in shares)		145
Repurchase of common stock	(8,667)	$ (236)	(8,431)			(8,667)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(236)
Exercise of stock options	3,473	$ 133	3,340			3,473
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		133
Amortization of deferred compensation	19,307		19,307			19,307
Common dividends	(806,243)			(806,243)		(806,243)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18,687)		(36)			(36)	(18,651)
Issuances of noncontrolling interests	4,785						4,785
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests	506		(36)	475		439	67
Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	9,575,434	$ 467,820	11,720,552	(2,975,096)	(30,164)	9,183,112	392,322
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		467,820
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	5,941,308	$ 468,081	8,198,890	(3,089,734)	(29,642)	5,547,595	393,713
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		468,081
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	480,558			472,871		472,871	7,687
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,151				5,151	5,151
Issuance of common stock, net	17,350	$ 998	16,352			17,350
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		998
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock		$ 68	2,003			2,071	(2,071)
Conversion of DownREIT units (in shares)		68
Repurchase of common stock	(4,459)	$ (144)	(4,315)			(4,459)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(144)
Exercise of stock options	768	$ 32	736			768
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		32
Amortization of deferred compensation	10,865		10,865			10,865
Common dividends	(520,779)			(520,779)		(520,779)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(19,520)						(19,520)
Issuances of noncontrolling interests	1,050						1,050
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests	(58,061)						(58,061)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 5,854,231	$ 469,035	$ 8,224,531	$ (3,137,642)	$ (24,491)	$ 5,531,433	$ 322,798
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		469,035