Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 187,132	$ 150,512	$ 138,468
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of property	0	0	(1,457)
Early debt retirement	0	16,913	5,087
Depreciation	118,521	114,698	111,872
Amortization of in-place leases	3,373	2,358	3,999
Amortization of loan costs	3,878	4,216	4,783
Debt premium amortization	(3,382)	(3,869)	(5,185)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,605)	(4,089)	(4,578)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,793	3,584	3,362
Stock-based compensation	9,181	8,582	7,568
Revenue recognized from right-to-use contract upfront payments	(9,248)	(8,552)	(8,391)
Commission expense recognized related to right-to-use contracts	4,149	3,595	2,934
Long term incentive plan compensation	(2,929)	973	1,900
(Recovery) provision for uncollectible rents receivable	(744)	537	101
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Notes receivable activity, net	318	66	(1,037)
Deferred commission expense	(4,659)	(5,871)	(6,272)
Escrow deposits, goodwill and other assets	23,706	44,095	22,230
Accrued expenses and accounts payable	10,322	5,632	(5,282)
Deferred revenue – upfront payments from right-to-use contracts	12,327	12,783	13,892
Deferred revenue – right-to-use annual payments	(61)	88	(1,346)
Rents received in advance and security deposits	2,276	6,631	3,097
Net cash provided by operating activities	353,348	352,882	285,745
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Real estate acquisition	98,244	23,687	81,391
Total proceeds from dispositions of rental property and other	0	0	2,102
Tax-deferred exchange deposit	0	0	10,576
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,134)	(4,000)	(3,489)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,094	80	2,580
Repayments of notes receivable	10,184	10,490	14,899
Issuance of notes receivable	(10,285)	(9,791)	(9,441)
Capital improvements	(119,437)	(93,799)	(63,721)
Net cash used in investing activities	(218,822)	(120,707)	(127,885)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net proceeds from stock options and employee stock purchase plan	12,557	4,899	1,326
Gross proceeds from sale of Common Stock	50,000	0	0
Distributions:
Common Stockholders	(140,057)	(122,077)	(102,346)
Common OP Unitholders	(11,888)	(10,470)	(9,123)
Preferred Stockholders	(9,226)	(9,226)	(9,274)
Stock repurchase and Unit redemption	(229)	(62)	0
Share based award tax withholding payments	(2,423)	(3,139)	(1,870)
Principal payments and mortgage debt payoff	(142,731)	(456,308)	(178,040)
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds	88,050	395,323	169,000
Debt issuance and defeasance costs	(1,375)	(24,080)	(11,651)
Other	(1,122)	(491)	(595)
Net cash used in financing activities	(158,444)	(225,631)	(142,573)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(23,918)	6,544	15,287
Cash, beginning of year	80,258	73,714	58,427
Cash, end of year	56,340	80,258	73,714
Supplemental information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	105,556	106,423	112,963
Capital improvements – used homes acquired by repossessions	726	909	1,431
Net repayments of notes receivable – used homes acquired by repossessions	(726)	(909)	(1,431)
Building and other depreciable property – reclassification of rental homes	34,707	28,790	23,494
Escrow deposits and other assets – reclassification of rental homes	(34,707)	(28,790)	(23,494)
Real estate acquisitions:
Investment in real estate, fair value	(120,448)	(23,900)	(122,366)
Investment in real estate, cost	(2,000)	0	0
Deferred financing costs, net	0	0	(284)
Escrow deposits and other assets	(20)	(53)	(12)
Debt assumed and financed on acquisition	22,010	0	34,559
Accrued expenses and accounts payable	1,883	62	1,947
Rents and other customer payments received in advance and security deposits	331	204	4,765
Proceeds from dispositions of rental property and other:
Investment in real estate	0	0	87
Other, net	0	0	(558)
Gain on sale of property	0	0	1,457
Total proceeds from dispositions of rental property and other	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,102