Segment Reporting - Reconciliation of NOI to Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Percentage of physical occupancy	90.00%
Anniversary of Completion of Development or Redevelopment (in years)	1 year
Reconciliation of NOI to net income
Net income	$ 1,004,356	$ 827,706	$ 786,103
Property management and other indirect operating expenses, net of corporate income	98,665	97,443	83,008
Expensed transaction, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries	3,231	12,399	4,991
Interest expense, net	220,415	214,151	203,585
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	17,787	9,333	602
General and administrative expense	69,611	60,343	58,042
Income from investments in unconsolidated entities	(38,585)	(6,422)	(8,652)
Depreciation expense	758,596	707,331	661,578
Income tax (expense) benefit	5,733	(3,247)	13,003
Casualty and impairment loss	3,119	0	0
Gain on sale of communities	(602,235)	(340,444)	(166,105)
(Loss) gain on other real estate transactions	(2,097)	(440)	(439)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Other Investments, Net of Marketing and Administrative Costs	977	(2,551)	3,812
Net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale	(24,895)	(67,418)	(87,637)
Net operating income	$ 1,514,678	$ 1,508,184	$ 1,551,891
Non-Apartment Components Of Mixed-Use Communities And Other Nonresidential Operations | Operating Income (Loss) | Product Concentration Risk
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	1.70%	0.80%	1.80%