Segment Information (Textual) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 individual Property States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties	275
Number of states in which apartment units are located (states)	14
Apartment community population (individuals)	1,000,000
Percentage of Total Public Multifamily REIT Units	1.00%
Period properties owned and stabilized (months)	12 months
Large Market Same Store
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Apartment communities in reportable operating segments	communities in markets with a population of at least 1 million and at least 1% of the total public multifamily REIT units that we have owned and have been stabilized for at least a full 12 months and have not been classified as held for sale.
Secondary Market Same Store
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Apartment communities in reportable operating segments	communities in markets with populations of more than 1 million but less than 1% of the total public multifamily REIT units or markets with populations of less than 1 million that we have owned and have been stabilized for at least a full 12 months and have not been classified as held for sale.
Non Same Store And Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Apartment communities in reportable operating segments	recent acquisitions, communities in development or lease-up and communities that have been classified as held for sale. Also included in non same store communities are non multifamily activities which represent less than 1% of our portfolio.