Reportable Segments - Consolidated Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	$ (32,452)	$ (30,247)	$ (63,774)	$ (60,357)
Amortization of in-place leases	(1,893)	(958)	(2,945)	(1,990)
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Income from other investments, net	3,413	1,109	4,353	1,866
General and administrative	(9,669)	(8,461)	(17,707)	(15,834)
Other expenses	(367)	(271)	(710)	(490)
Interest and related amortization	(26,285)	(24,822)	(51,988)	(49,701)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,613	1,040	2,808	2,190
Consolidated net income	49,169	44,463	113,346	107,537
Total assets	3,700,189	3,485,358	3,700,189	3,485,358	$ 3,610,032
Capital improvements	50,061	29,110	81,377	53,464
Property Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	3,477,455	3,267,947	3,477,455	3,267,947
Capital improvements	26,602	18,534	47,870	31,731
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	222,734	217,411	222,734	217,411
Capital improvements	23,459	10,576	33,507	21,733
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	235,227	218,405	478,362	448,267
Operations expenses	(122,280)	(113,130)	(238,865)	(219,982)
Income from segment operations	112,947	105,275	239,497	228,285
Interest income	1,856	1,795	3,571	3,563
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(32,452)	(30,247)	(63,774)	(60,357)
Amortization of in-place leases	(1,893)	(958)	(2,945)	(1,990)
Income (loss) from operations	80,458	75,865	176,349	169,501
Operating Segments | Property Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	222,167	206,594	453,183	425,582
Operations expenses	(110,046)	(102,649)	(215,558)	(199,906)
Income from segment operations	112,121	103,945	237,625	225,676
Interest income	823	754	1,631	1,484
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(30,061)	(27,609)	(53,084)	(55,062)
Amortization of in-place leases	(1,893)	(958)	(2,945)	(1,990)
Income (loss) from operations	80,990	76,132	183,227	170,108
Operating Segments | Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	13,060	11,811	25,179	22,685
Operations expenses	(12,234)	(10,481)	(23,307)	(20,076)
Income from segment operations	826	1,330	1,872	2,609
Interest income	1,033	1,041	1,940	2,079
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes	(2,391)	(2,638)	(10,690)	(5,295)
Amortization of in-place leases	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(532)	(267)	(6,878)	(607)
Segment Reconciling Items
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Corporate interest income	6	3	241	5
Income from other investments, net	3,413	1,109	4,353	1,866
General and administrative	(9,669)	(8,461)	(17,707)	(15,834)
Other expenses	(367)	(271)	(710)	(490)
Interest and related amortization	(26,285)	(24,822)	(51,988)	(49,701)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 1,613	$ 1,040	$ 2,808	$ 2,190