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Investments in Real Estate Entities (Details) ft² in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) community home investor extension agreement loan ft² mi	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) community home	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) home	Feb. 27, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of communities	$ 54,202	$ 136,333	$ 196,749
Number of apartment homes in communities owned \| home	81,499
Preferred interest obligation redemption and dividends	$ (1,120)	(2,000)	(1,960)
Gain (loss) on other real estate transactions, net	345	(10,907)	10,224
Gain on sale of communities	374,976	252,599	374,623
Equity method investment, difference between carrying amount and underlying equity	$ 31,188	35,402
Number of communities acquired \| community	4
Payments to acquire other real estate	$ 338,620	462,317	393,316
Expensed transaction, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries	4,309	2,736	9,922
Avalon Arundel Crossing
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire other real estate	$ 83,000
Number of apartment homes acquired \| home	310
Alexander Apartments & Lofts
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire other real estate	$ 103,000
Number of apartment homes acquired \| home	290
Retail square feet acquired \| ft²	2
Ironwood at Red Rocks
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire other real estate	$ 75,400
Number of apartment homes acquired \| home	256
The Meadows
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire other real estate	$ 73,050
Number of apartment homes acquired \| home	240
Acquired Real Estate
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Expensed transaction, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries		5,139
Archstone Enterprise LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired				40.00%
Equity Residential and its Operating Partnership and ERP Operating Limited Partnership \| Archstone Enterprise LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired				60.00%
US Fund
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of extension options \| extension	2
Period of extension (in years)	1 year
Number of institutional investors \| investor	6
Real estate investments, joint ventures	$ 31,194
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	28.60%
Gain on sale of communities	$ 8,636	13,788
Number of loans secured by individual assets \| loan	5
Debt outstanding	$ 205,846
US Fund \| Avalon Kirkland at Carillon
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Apartment homes \| home	131
Net cash proceeds	$ 85,500
Repayments of secured debt	$ 27,928
ACJV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of institutional investors \| investor	4
Real estate investments, joint ventures	$ 34,799
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.00%
Gain on sale of communities	$ 2,019
Number of loans secured by individual assets \| loan	1
Debt outstanding	$ 111,653
Maximum geographic radius for existing assets within considered for right of first offer \| mi	1
ACJV \| Avalon Woodland Park
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Apartment homes \| home	392
Net cash proceeds	$ 94,250
Repayments of secured debt	$ 50,647
MVPI LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	25.00%
Number of apartment homes in communities owned \| home	313
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities relating to the Company's recognition of promoted interest			16,568
Brandywine
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	28.70%
Debt outstanding	$ 22,195
Number of apartment homes in communities owned \| home	305
Number of members who hold various interests in joint venture \| investor	5
Residual JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%
Number of LLC agreements \| agreement	3
Legacy JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%
Preferred interest obligation liquidation value	$ 36,806
Sudbury
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	60.00%
Land	$ 19,200
AVA North Point
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Real estate investments, joint ventures	$ 45,162
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	55.00%
Number of apartment homes in communities owned \| home	265
Gain (loss) on other real estate transactions, net	$ 10,621
AVA North Point \| Joint Venture Partner
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	45.00%
NYC JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Real estate investments, joint ventures	$ 75,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.00%
Variable interest entity, ownership interest by partner	80.00%
Fund II
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of institutional investors \| investor	6
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	31.30%
Gain on sale of communities		$ 26,322	41,501
Number of apartment communities sold \| community		3
Percentage of right of distribution	40.00%
Percentage of right of remaining distribution	60.00%
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities relating to the Company's recognition of promoted interest	$ 925	$ 26,472	$ 7,985
Avalon Brooklyn Bay
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, qualitative or quantitative information, ownership percentage	70.00%
Variable interest entity, ownership interest by partner	30.00%
Due from related parties	$ 12,819	$ 44,831
Avalon Brooklyn Bay Condominiums
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership interest by partner	100.00%
Avalon Brooklyn Bay Rental Apartments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, qualitative or quantitative information, ownership percentage	100.00%
NYC JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Apartment homes \| home	1,301
Repayments of secured debt	$ 395,939
retail square feet sold \| ft²	58
Wholly Owned Properties
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Apartment homes \| home	3,099	1,624	2,051
Net cash proceeds	$ 883,313	$ 503,039	$ 532,717
Repayments of secured debt	$ 395,939	$ 0	$ 0