Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 226,386	$ 210,377	$ 187,132
Adjustments to reconcile Consolidated net income to Net cash provided by operating activities:
Early debt retirement	1,071	2,785	0
Depreciation	131,501	122,720	118,521
Amortization of in-place leases	7,187	2,231	3,373
Amortization of loan costs	3,564	3,546	3,878
Debt premium amortization	(2,259)	(2,211)	(3,382)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,939)	(3,765)	(2,605)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,122	3,003	2,819
Proceeds from insurance claims, net	(8,525)	(2,722)	(12,198)
Compensation expense related to restricted stock and stock options	9,995	9,352	9,181
Revenue recognized from right-to-use contract upfront payments	(7,811)	(10,020)	(9,248)
Commission expense recognized related to right-to-use contracts	3,609	4,509	4,149
Long-term incentive plan compensation	1,176	1,347	(2,929)
Provision for (recovery of) uncollectible rents receivable	322	(333)	(744)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Notes receivable activity, net	(247)	(1,510)	217
Deferred commission expense	(4,274)	(4,577)	(4,659)
Other assets, net	32,364	37,838	33,993
Accrued expenses and accounts payable	827	(11,184)	10,322
Deferred revenue	7,380	4,112
Rents received in advance and security deposits	1,701	2,354	2,276
Net cash provided by operating activities	411,084	377,987	352,362
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Real estate acquisitions, net	(234,108)	(136,552)	(98,244)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,497)	(33,345)	(5,134)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	396	789	3,068
Proceeds from insurance claims	7,943	3,626	1,145
Repayments of notes receivable	13,823	0	0
Issuance of notes receivable	0	(13,823)	0
Capital improvements	(181,622)	(126,050)	(119,437)
Net cash used in investing activities	(398,065)	(305,355)	(218,602)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from stock options and employee stock purchase plan	5,813	6,911	12,557
Gross proceeds from sale of Common Stock	78,755	120,698	50,000
Distributions:
Common Stockholders	(190,211)	(163,770)	(140,057)
Common OP Unitholders	(12,411)	(11,631)	(11,888)
Preferred Stockholders	(16)	(6,928)	(9,226)
Stock repurchase and Unit redemption	0	0	(229)
Share based award tax withholding payments	(2,958)	(3,087)	(2,423)
Principal payments and mortgage debt payoff	(245,335)	(270,530)	(142,731)
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds	421,774	350,369	88,050
Line of Credit payoff	(284,000)	(101,000)	0
Debt issuance and defeasance costs	254,000	131,000	0
Debt issuance and defeasance costs	(6,436)	(12,567)	(1,375)
Redemption of preferred stock	0	(136,314)	0
Other, primarily ATM offering costs	(1,651)	(1,947)	(1,122)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	17,324	(98,796)	(158,444)
Net increase (decrease) in Cash and restricted cash	30,343	(26,164)	(24,684)
Cash and restricted cash, beginning of year	35,631	61,795	86,479
Cash and restricted cash, end of year	65,974	35,631	61,795
Supplemental information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	102,377	102,570	105,556
Building and other depreciable property – reclassification of rental homes	39,587	38,350	34,707
Other assets, net – reclassification of rental homes	(39,587)	(38,350)	(34,707)
Real estate acquisitions:
Investment in real estate	(265,129)	(142,255)	(122,448)
Other assets, net	(59)	(229)	(20)
Debt assumed	9,200	5,900	22,010
Debt financed	8,786	0	0
Accrued expenses and accounts payable	794	32	1,883
Other liabilities	12,300	0	331
Deferred revenue – upfront payments from right-to-use contracts
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Deferred revenue	15,191	14,132	12,327
Deferred revenue – right-to-use annual payments
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Deferred revenue	$ 123	$ 115	$ (61)