CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenue:
Rental and other income	$ 529,414	$ 500,840	$ 1,050,539	$ 1,007,814
Management, development and other fees	1,098	1,467	2,298	2,990
Total revenue	530,512	502,307	1,052,837	1,010,804
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding property taxes	126,687	118,903	249,730	235,530
Property taxes	53,566	51,107	106,497	101,174
Interest expense, net	50,102	46,581	99,397	89,991
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	24,162	2,461	24,162	2,461
Depreciation expense	141,439	132,469	282,060	259,685
General and administrative expense	13,947	12,011	27,153	23,414
Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries	570	1,436	1,298	4,897
Casualty and impairment (gain) loss, net	0	1,732	(11,688)	3,935
Total expenses	410,473	363,236	801,985	713,217
Income before equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, gain on sale of communities and other real estate, and income taxes	120,039	139,071	250,852	297,587
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities	1,146	27,151	17,819	55,120
Gain on sale of communities	44,067	30,990	132,016	82,420
Gain on sale of other real estate	0	143	366	143
Income before income taxes	165,252	197,355	401,053	435,270
Income tax expense	58	36	78	73
Net income	165,194	197,319	400,975	435,197
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	31	125	125	180
Net income attributable to common stockholders	165,225	197,444	401,100	435,377
Other comprehensive loss:
Loss on cash flow hedges	(16,158)	(26,788)	(16,013)	(74,545)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,781	1,561	3,534	2,935
Comprehensive income	$ 150,848	$ 172,217	$ 388,621	$ 363,767
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.44	$ 2.91	$ 3.17
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	1.20	1.44	2.91	3.17
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.42	$ 1.35	$ 2.84	$ 2.70