Real Estate Disposition Activities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 home	Mar. 31, 2012
Real estate disposition activities
Number of communities sold	3
Gain on sale of communities	$ 84,491,000
Summary of income from discontinued operations
Rental income	3,228,000	8,455,000
Operating and other expenses	(782,000)	(2,699,000)
Interest expense, net		(80,000)
Depreciation expense		(1,741,000)
Income from discontinued operations	2,446,000	3,935,000
Crystal House I and Crystal House II
Real estate disposition activities
Number of communities sold	2
Apartment homes	827
Proceeds from sale of real estate	197,150,000
Rockville, MD apartment community
Real estate disposition activities
Apartment homes	564
Proceeds from sale of real estate	135,250,000
Gain on sale of communities	$ 84,491,000

Represents the number of apartment communities sold during the period.

No definition available.

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Represents the number of apartment homes sold during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of expense from discontinued operations, that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible and intangible assets over the assets' useful lives.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

After tax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

+ References

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Amount of interest expense allocated to disposal group, including a discontinued operation.

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Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of rental income attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of difference between the carrying amount and the sales price of real estate properties sold as part of discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

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