Reportable Segments- Consolidated Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	$ 229,862	$ 216,764
Operations expenses	(106,852)	(101,152)
Income from segment operations	123,010	115,612
Interest income	1,767	1,636
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(30,109)	(28,656)
Amortization of in-place leases	(1,032)	(335)
Income (loss) from operations	93,636	88,257
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Corporate interest income	3	24
Income from other investments, net	757	1,723
General and administrative	(7,373)	(7,407)
Property rights initiatives and other	(219)	(654)
Interest and related amortization	(24,879)	(25,634)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,150	881
Consolidated net income	63,075	57,190
Total assets	3,471,041	3,415,125	$ 3,478,987
Capital improvements	24,354	22,495
Property Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	218,988	204,726
Operations expenses	(97,257)	(90,512)
Income from segment operations	121,731	114,214
Interest income	729	718
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(27,410)	(25,965)
Amortization of in-place leases	(1,032)	(335)
Income (loss) from operations	94,018	88,632
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	3,247,523	3,176,748
Capital improvements	13,198
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	10,874	12,038
Operations expenses	(9,595)	(10,640)
Income from segment operations	1,279	1,398
Interest income	1,038	918
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(2,699)	(2,691)
Amortization of in-place leases	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(382)	(375)
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	223,518	$ 238,377
Capital improvements	$ 11,156