Organization, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 state community home
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Number of Real Estate Properties | community	258
Number of apartment homes included in operating apartment communities owned | home	74,538
Number of states where operating apartment communities owned are located | state	10
Number of communities with apartments under reconstruction | community	4
Number of apartment homes under reconstruction | home	1,671
Number of owned communities under construction | community	27
Expected number of apartment homes under construction | home	9,129
Communities under development rights | community	25
Estimated number of apartment homes in communities to be developed | home	8,487
Period of lease (in years)	1 year
Buildings and Building Improvements | Minimum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements (in years)	7 years
Buildings and Building Improvements | Maximum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements (in years)	30 years
Computers and furniture | Minimum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements (in years)	3 years
Computers and furniture | Maximum
Real Estate
Estimated useful life of buildings and improvements (in years)	7 years