CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 146,775	$ 262,076
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense	204,743	201,786
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,231	2,691
Amortization of stock-based compensation	7,921	6,970
Equity in (income) loss of, and return on, unconsolidated investments and noncontrolling interests, net of eliminations	(1,457)	913
Casualty loss	2,407	0
Abandonment of development pursuits	2,992	8
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	354	1,013
Gain on sale of real estate assets	(318)	(149,839)
Decrease in resident security deposits, prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,439)	(1,233)
Increase in accrued expenses, other liabilities and accrued interest payable	30,909	19,295
Net cash provided by operating activities	396,118	343,680
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development/redevelopment of real estate assets including land acquisitions and deferred development costs	(229,361)	(232,038)
Acquisition of real estate assets	0	(95,426)
Capital expenditures - existing real estate assets	(31,281)	(29,472)
Capital expenditures - non-real estate assets	(3,201)	(2,472)
Proceeds from (Payments to) Construction Payables	12,176	3,124
Proceeds from sale of real estate and for-sale condominiums, net of selling costs	3,964	267,736
Note receivable lending	(14,034)	0
Note receivable payments	0	1,946
Unconsolidated investments	(5,602)	(3,598)
Net cash used in investing activities	(267,339)	(90,200)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net	135	459
Repurchase of common stock, net	(1,129)	0
Dividends paid	(223,465)	(223,063)
Repayments of mortgage notes payable, including prepayment penalties	(899)	(362)
Repayment of unsecured notes	(250,000)	(100,000)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(662)	(421)
Acquisition of/payments to noncontrolling interest	0	(16)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation	(10,310)	(16,353)
Distributions to DownREIT partnership unitholders	(12)	(12)
Distributions to joint venture and profit-sharing partners	(98)	(89)
Preferred interest obligation redemption and dividends	(520)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(486,960)	(339,857)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and cash in escrow	(358,181)	(86,377)
Cash, cash equivalents and cash in escrow, beginning of period	734,245	543,788
Cash, cash equivalents and cash in escrow, end of period	376,064	457,411
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amount capitalized	33,814	36,290
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	254,466	343,457
Cash in escrow	121,598	113,954
Cash, cash equivalents and cash in escrow reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	$ 376,064	$ 457,411