Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BUSINESS	BUSINESS We are a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity real estate investment trust ("REIT") specializing in multifamily ownership, operation, acquisition, development, construction, disposition and property management activities. Our primary source of income is rental revenue. We own a taxable REIT subsidiary that performs construction services for our own account in connection with the development of multifamily properties that we own and operate, including consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures. As of December 31, 2013, our operating portfolio consisted of 53 apartment communities containing 13,676 units in ten states that are owned, either directly or indirectly, through subsidiaries. In conjunction with our acquisition of land for development of an apartment community, we acquired a commercial building in Los Angeles, California, containing approximately 78,800 total square feet (unaudited) of office and commercial space.

Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

We are a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity real estate investment trust ("REIT") specializing in multifamily ownership, operation, acquisition, development, construction, disposition and property management activities. Our primary source of income is rental revenue. We own a taxable REIT subsidiary that performs construction services for our own account in connection with the development of multifamily properties that we own and operate, including consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures. As of December 31, 2013, our operating portfolio consisted of 53 apartment communities containing 13,676 units in ten states that are owned, either directly or indirectly, through subsidiaries. In conjunction with our acquisition of land for development of an apartment community, we acquired a commercial building in Los Angeles, California, containing approximately 78,800 total square feet (unaudited) of office and commercial space.