Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 309,111	$ 489,453	$ 451,615
Income taxes paid	10,045	13,727	6,959
Capitalized interest	16,937	11,108	8,798
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction costs	67,425	49,999	52,511
Non-cash impact of QCP Spin-Off, net	0	3,539,584	0
Securities transferred for debt defeasance	0	73,278	0
Settlement of loans receivable as consideration for real estate acquisition	0	0	299,297
Vesting of restricted stock units and conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	2,908	6,622	3,388
Noncontrolling interest and other liabilities, net assumed in connection with the RIDEA III acquisition	0	0	61,219
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in connection with RIDEA II transaction	58,061	0	0
Noncontrolling interest issued in connection with real estate and other acquisitions	0	0	10,971
Mortgages and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions	5,425	82,985	23,218
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,862	(3,332)	(8,738)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ (10,315)	$ 3,171	$ 1,889