Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) (Details) $ / shares in Units, ft² in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 shares	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016 Property	Dec. 31, 2016 ft²	Dec. 31, 2016 Communities	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding | shares					867,846
General partners' capital account, units outstanding | shares		75,408,571			113,518,212
Limited Liability (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest	0.9641544705
Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest		94.80%
Number of Real Estate Properties							303		302
Advertising expenses	$ 13,000,000	$ 13,500,000	$ 12,400,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months				$ 28,700,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three				2,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four				1,600,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five				800,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five				500,000
Preferred Stock, Redemption Price Per Share | $ / shares	$ 50.00
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Real Estate Properties
Estimated useful lives (years)	5 years
Leases, Acquired-in-Place
Real Estate Properties
Amortization period of in-place leases and residential relationships (months)	6 months
Lease Intangibles, Gross		6,100,000	8,300,000							$ 42,400,000
Accumulated amortization		2,300,000	1,800,000							$ 7,300,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 8,700,000	$ 5,000,000	24,500,000
Minimum
Real Estate Properties
Percentage of ownership interests of all consolidated subsidiaries (percent)						93.00%
Minimum | Land improvements and buildings
Real Estate Properties
Estimated useful lives (years)	8 years
Minimum | Computer and software
Real Estate Properties
Estimated useful lives (years)	3 years
Maximum
Real Estate Properties
Percentage of ownership interests of all consolidated subsidiaries (percent)						100.00%
Maximum self insurance reserve for workers' compensation claims				500,000
Maximum self insurance reserve for general liability claims				100,000
Maximum | Land improvements and buildings
Real Estate Properties
Estimated useful lives (years)	40 years
Maximum | Computer and software
Real Estate Properties
Estimated useful lives (years)	5 years
Development Properties
Real Estate Properties
Number of Real Estate Properties | Communities									9
Number of units under development community | Property							2,816
Number of units in real estate property | Property							700
Development Properties | Expected Costs
Real Estate Properties
Development and capital improvements in progress				561,800,000
Development Properties | Costs Incurred to Date
Real Estate Properties
Development and capital improvements in progress				366,500,000
Retail
Real Estate Properties
Number of Real Estate Properties | Property							29
Square footage of real estate property (square foot) | ft²								601
Commercial Properties
Real Estate Properties
Number of Real Estate Properties | Property							4
Square footage of real estate property (square foot) | ft²								269
Colonial Grand at McKinney
Real Estate Properties
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						35.00%
Real Estate Investments, Joint Ventures				44,500,000
Post River North [Member]
Real Estate Properties
Number of units in real estate property						358
Percentage of ownership interests of all consolidated subsidiaries (percent)						92.50%
Parent Company [Member]
Real Estate Properties
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding | shares		0			867,846
Development and capital improvements in progress		$ 44,355,000		231,224,000
Common Stock, Conversion Basis	0.71
Total interest capitalized during period	$ 2,073,000	1,655,000	1,722,000
Capitalized Salaries	300,000	400,000	1,700,000
Capitalized Real Estate Taxes	300,000	200,000	200,000
Lease Intangibles, Gross		8,138,332,000		12,869,198,000
Accumulated amortization		1,482,368,000		1,656,071,000
Depreciation and amortization	322,958,000	294,520,000	301,812,000
Goodwill		1,607,000	2,300,000	1,239,000
Parent Company [Member] | Maximum
Real Estate Properties
Maximum self insurance reserve for general liability claims				200,000
Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Real Estate Properties
Dividends Payable		65,200,000		102,400,000
Accrued Real Estate Taxes		63,300,000		97,600,000
Unearned Income	39,400,000	25,400,000
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period	$ 42,100,000	13,500,000
Interest Payable		$ 17,200,000		15,200,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Real Estate Properties
General partners' capital account, units outstanding | shares		75,408,571			113,518,212
Development and capital improvements in progress		$ 44,355,000		231,224,000
Common Unit, Conversion Basis	0.71
Total interest capitalized during period	$ 2,073,000	1,655,000	1,722,000
Lease Intangibles, Gross		8,138,332,000		12,869,198,000
Accumulated amortization		1,482,368,000		1,656,071,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 322,958,000	294,520,000	$ 301,812,000
Goodwill		$ 1,607,000		$ 1,239,000