CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Rental and other income		$ 506,974	$ 439,756
Management, development and other fees		1,524	2,611
Total revenue		508,498	442,367
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding property taxes		116,626	112,777
Property taxes		50,067	47,177
Interest expense, net	[1]	43,410	45,573
Depreciation expense	[1]	127,216	116,853
General and administrative expense		11,404	10,468
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs		3,462	1,187
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net		2,202	(5,788)
Total expenses		349,983	339,823
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities		27,969	34,566
Gain on sale of real estate		0	22
Gain on sale of communities		51,430	70,936
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		237,914	208,068
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		37	15
Discontinued operations:
Net income		237,877	208,053
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		54	91
Net income attributable to common stockholders		237,931	208,144
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent		(47,757)	(30)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings		1,374	1,595
Comprehensive income		$ 191,548	$ 209,709
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 1.35	$ 1.25

[1] Represents NOI from real estate assets sold or held for sale that are not otherwise classified as discontinued operations.