Real Estate Disposition Activities (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015 land_parcel community	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of income from discontinued operations
Rental income	$ 0	$ 579
Operating and other expenses	0	(269)
Depreciation expense	0	0
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 310
Number Of Communities Held For Sale	1avb_NumberOfCommunitiesHeldForSale
Number of Land Parcels Held For Sale	1avb_NumberofLandParcelsHeldForSale

Number Of Communities Held For Sale

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- Definition

Number of Land Parcels Held For Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of expense from discontinued operations, that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible and intangible assets over the assets' useful lives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

After tax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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- Definition

Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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- Definition

Amount of rental income attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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