CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Rental and other income	$ 521,126	$ 506,974
Management, development and other fees	1,200	1,524
Total revenue	522,326	508,498
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding property taxes	123,044	116,626
Property taxes	52,930	50,067
Interest expense, net	49,295	43,410
Depreciation expense	140,621	127,216
General and administrative expense	13,206	11,404
Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries	728	3,462
Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net	(11,688)	2,202
Total expenses	391,512	349,983
Income before equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, gain on sale of communities and other real estate, and income taxes	130,814	158,515
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities	16,672	27,969
Gain on sale of communities	87,949	51,430
Gain on sale of other real estate	366	0
Income before income taxes	235,801	237,914
Income tax expense	20	37
Net income	235,781	237,877
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	94	54
Net income attributable to common stockholders	235,875	237,931
Other comprehensive income (loss):
(Loss) income on cash flow hedges	145	(47,757)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,752	1,374
Comprehensive income	$ 237,772	$ 191,548
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.72	$ 1.73
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	1.72	1.73
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.42	$ 1.35