Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes receivable	$ 18,600	$ 19,044
Mortgages and notes payable	1,903,213	1,522,945
Financing obligations	31,444	33,114
Fair value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes receivable	18,990	19,093
Mortgages and notes payable	1,992,937	1,581,518
Financing obligations	18,866	23,880
Carrying value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes receivable	18,600	19,044
Mortgages and notes payable	1,903,213	1,522,945
Financing obligations	$ 31,444	$ 33,114

Carrying value as of balance sheet date of obligations incurred as part of real estate transactions that are, in substance, a financing arrangement rather than a sale.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of the recorded investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable (with terms exceeding one year), notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Receivable

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6953735

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of all notes and loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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