Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest Exchangeable Operating Partnership Units [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests In Limited Partners Interest In Consolidated Partnerships [Member]	Total Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 6,058,147	$ 1,697	$ (24,436)	$ 7,792,082	$ (18,625)	$ (1,765,806)	$ 5,984,912	$ 35,727	$ 37,508	$ 73,235
Net income	297,305					293,552	293,552	1,315	2,438	3,753
Other comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	3,383				3,157		3,157	16	210	226
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,109				2,850		2,850	12	247	259
Deferred compensation plan, net			(882)	959
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	9,468	2		9,466			9,468
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	(3,662)			(3,662)			(3,662)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	1,172			1,172			1,172
Common stock issued for partnership units exchanged				99			99	(99)		(99)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	82,510	13		82,497			82,510
Distributions to partners	(3,272)								(3,272)	(3,272)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(304,773)					(303,414)	(303,414)	(1,359)		(1,359)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	6,143,464	1,712	(25,318)	7,882,613	(12,618)	(1,775,668)	6,070,721	35,612	37,131	72,743
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,040,031	1,699	(25,887)	7,796,699	(13,658)	(1,791,773)	5,967,080	35,544	37,407	72,951
Net income	118,848					117,406	117,406	519	923	1,442
Other comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	89				88		88	1		1
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,040				952		952	4	84	88
Deferred compensation plan, net	77		569	(492)			77
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	3,425			3,425			3,425
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	80			80			80
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	404			404			404
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	82,510	13		82,497			82,510
Distributions to partners	(1,283)								(1,283)	(1,283)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(101,757)					(101,301)	(101,301)	(456)		(456)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	6,143,464	1,712	(25,318)	7,882,613	(12,618)	(1,775,668)	6,070,721	35,612	37,131	72,743
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	6,109,932	1,712	(22,758)	7,883,458	(10,227)	(1,814,814)	6,037,371	35,447	37,114	72,561
Net income	391,650					387,602	387,602	1,694	2,354	4,048
Other comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	18,837				17,067		17,067	81	1,689	1,770
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,563				1,413		1,413	8	142	150
Deferred compensation plan, net			(1,303)	1,303
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	12,699	2		12,697			12,699
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	(5,996)			(5,996)			(5,996)
Common stock repurchased and retired	(75,419)	(13)		(75,406)			(75,419)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	388			388			388
Common stock issued for partnership units exchanged				1,275			1,275	(1,275)		(1,275)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	61,284	10		61,274			61,284
Contributions from partners	11,903								11,903	11,903
Distributions to partners	(4,899)								(4,899)	(4,899)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(323,202)					(321,801)	(321,801)	(1,401)		(1,401)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	6,198,740	1,711	(24,061)	7,878,993	8,253	(1,749,013)	6,115,883	34,554	48,303	82,857
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	6,206,135	1,711	(23,882)	7,874,461	2,388	(1,729,645)	6,125,033	34,611	46,491	81,102
Net income	88,847					87,578	87,578	379	890	1,269
Other comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	6,410				5,787		5,787	27	596	623
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	72				78		78	1	(7)	(6)
Deferred compensation plan, net			(179)	179
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	4,125			4,125			4,125
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	92			92			92
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	136			136			136
Contributions from partners	1,457								1,457	1,457
Distributions to partners	(1,124)								(1,124)	(1,124)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(107,410)					(106,946)	(106,946)	(464)		(464)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 6,198,740	$ 1,711	$ (24,061)	$ 7,878,993	$ 8,253	$ (1,749,013)	$ 6,115,883	$ 34,554	$ 48,303	$ 82,857