Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Interim Unaudited Financial Information The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2016 . Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from this report. The results for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of future financial results. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2016 and condensed consolidated statements of operations, equity and cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 have not been audited by our independent registered public accounting firm. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , and our consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 . Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, as well as all wholly owned subsidiaries and any consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Developments We capitalize project costs related to the development and construction of real estate (including interest, real estate taxes, insurance, and other costs associated with the development) as a cost of the development. Indirect project costs not clearly related to development and construction are expensed as incurred. Indirect project costs that clearly relate to development and construction are capitalized and allocated to the developments to which they relate. For each development, capitalization begins when we determine that the development is probable and significant development activities are underway. We suspend capitalization at such time as significant development activity ceases, but future development is still probable. We cease capitalization when the developments or other improvements, including any portion thereof, are completed and ready for their intended use, or if the intended use changes such that capitalization is no longer appropriate. Developments or improvements are generally considered ready for intended use when the certificates of occupancy have been issued and the units become ready for occupancy. Impairment of Real Estate Related Assets If events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property may not be recoverable, we make an assessment of the property’s recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to our estimate of the aggregate undiscounted future operating cash flows expected to be generated over the holding period of the asset including its eventual disposition. If the carrying amount exceeds the aggregate undiscounted future operating cash flows, we recognize an impairment loss to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the property. In addition, we evaluate indefinite-lived intangible assets for possible impairment at least annually by comparing the fair values with the carrying values. The fair value of intangibles is generally estimated by valuation of similar assets. We did not record any impairment loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 . We recorded an impairment loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 related to one of our developments. See Note 4, “Real Estate Investments — Sales of Real Estate Reported in Continuing Operations” for more information. Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations For sales of real estate or assets classified as held for sale, we evaluate whether the disposition will have a major effect on our operations and financial results and will therefore qualify as a strategic shift. If the disposition represents a strategic shift, it will be classified as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. If the disposition does not represent a strategic shift, it will be presented in continuing operations in our consolidated statements of operations. We classify multifamily communities as held for sale when certain criteria are met, in accordance with GAAP. At that time, we present the assets and obligations associated with the real estate held for sale separately in our consolidated balance sheet, and we cease recording depreciation and amortization expense related to that multifamily community. Real estate held for sale is reported at the lower of its carrying amount or its estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell. Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider investments in bank deposits, money market funds and highly-liquid cash investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , cash and cash equivalents include $21.9 million and $32.5 million , respectively, held by the Master Partnership and individual Co-Investment Ventures that are available only for use in the business of the Master Partnership and the other individual Co-Investment Ventures. Cash held by the Master Partnership and individual Co-Investment Ventures is not restricted to specific uses within those entities. However, the terms of the joint venture agreements define the timing and magnitude of the distribution of those funds to us or limit our use of them for our general corporate purposes. Cash held by the Master Partnership and individual Co-Investment Ventures is distributed from time to time to the Company and to the other Co-Investment Venture partners in accordance with the applicable Co-Investment Venture governing agreement, which may not be the same as the stated effective ownership interest. Cash distributions received by the Company from the Master Partnership and individual Co-Investment Ventures are then available for our general corporate purposes. Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding any unvested restricted stock awards. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting basic earnings per share for the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of securities, including the effect of shares issuable under our preferred stock and our stock-based incentive plans. Our unvested share-based awards are considered participating securities and are reflected in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. During periods of net loss, the assumed exercise of securities is anti-dilutive and is not included in the calculation of earnings per share. During 2016 , any common stock equivalents were anti-dilutive. During 2015 , the dilutive impact was less than $0.01 . For all periods presented, the preferred stock was excluded from the calculation of earnings per share because the effect would not be dilutive. However, based on changing market conditions, the outstanding preferred stock could be dilutive in future periods. Reportable Segments Our current business primarily consists of investing in and operating multifamily communities. Substantially all of our consolidated net income (loss) is from investments in real estate properties that we wholly own or own through Co-Investment Ventures, the latter of which may be accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Our management evaluates operating performance on an individual investment level. However, as each of our investments has similar economic characteristics in our consolidated financial statements, the Company is managed on an enterprise-wide basis with one reportable segment. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts included in the financial statements and accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. These estimates include such items as: the purchase price allocations for real estate and other acquisitions; construction payables; impairment of long-lived assets; notes receivable, fair value evaluations; earning recognition of noncontrolling interests; depreciation and amortization; and share-based compensation measurements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02 , "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis." The guidance was effective January 1, 2016 and requires companies to evaluate the consolidation of certain legal entities under a revised consolidation model, which modified the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities and eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. Reporting entities which consolidate or hold a variable interest in a VIE as a result of this standard are subject to additional disclosure requirements. We adopted ASU 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016 applying the modified retrospective method. The adoption of this standard did not result in any changes in our previous consolidation conclusions. However, upon adoption, all previously consolidated CO-JVs, as discussed in Note 5, "Variable Interest Entities," are now classified as VIEs increasing the number of our VIEs to 39. As we are considered the primary beneficiary, we will continue to consolidate these CO-JVs. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest—Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The guidance requires costs incurred to issue debt to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt rather than being recorded as a deferred charge and presented as an asset. The standard also requires amortization of debt issuance costs to be reported as interest expense. We are currently presenting the amortization of debt issuance costs as a separate line in the statement of operations. The standard does not address presentation of debt issuance costs related to credit facilities allowing the Company to adopt an accounting policy regarding classification of debt issuance costs related to credit facilities. Accordingly, we have elected to report debt issuance costs related to credit facilities as a deduction to the credit facilities payable in the liability section of the consolidated balance sheet. We adopted the standard effective January 1, 2016. The retrospective application required upon adoption of this standard resulted in a reclassification of approximately $15.2 million of unamortized debt issuance costs from other assets, net to a deduction from mortgages and notes payable of $11.7 million and credit facilities payable of $3.5 million , respectively, in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments,” which eliminates the requirement to retrospectively account for adjustments to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. The acquirer in a business combination is required to recognize any adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. A company must present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. We adopted the standard effective January 1, 2016. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have any effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which affects the presentation of how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. We adopted the standard during the second quarter of 2016 effective as of January 1, 2016 on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have any effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements. |