Reportable Segments - Consolidated Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information
Depreciation and amortization	$ (152,110)	$ (137,209)	$ (123,686)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	52,507	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract]
Other income	43,063	51,935	47,599
General and administrative	(35,679)	(37,684)	(31,737)
Other expenses	(2,865)	(1,483)	(1,148)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(104,223)	(104,993)	(100,570)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	8,755	4,939	3,765
Other expenses	(1,491)	(1,071)	(2,785)
Consolidated net income	295,922	226,386	210,377
Total assets	4,151,275	3,925,808	3,610,032
Capital improvements	257,993	181,622	126,050
Property Operations
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract]
Other income			47,599
Total assets	3,878,770	3,692,510	3,386,084
Capital improvements	116,349	94,015	76,112
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract]
Total assets	272,505	233,298	223,948
Capital improvements	141,644	87,607	49,938
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Operations revenues	1,020,521	968,286	911,937
Operations expenses	(506,228)	(482,766)	(458,774)
Income from segment operations	514,293	485,520	453,163
Interest income	7,180	7,272	7,240
Depreciation and amortization	(152,110)	(137,209)	(123,686)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	52,507	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	421,870	355,583	336,717
Operating Segments | Property Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Operations revenues	969,560	916,565	859,582
Operations expenses	(461,128)	(434,360)	(411,465)
Income from segment operations	508,432	482,205	448,117
Interest income	3,856	3,374	3,048
Depreciation and amortization	(141,472)	(127,399)	(113,072)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	52,507	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	423,323	358,180	338,093
Operating Segments | Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Operations revenues	50,961	51,721	52,355
Operations expenses	(45,100)	(48,406)	(47,309)
Income from segment operations	5,861	3,315	5,046
Interest income	3,324	3,898	4,192
Depreciation and amortization	(10,638)	(9,810)	(10,614)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	0	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(1,453)	(2,597)	(1,376)
Segment Reconciling Items
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract]
Corporate interest income	27	253	340
Other income	9,528	10,842	5,795
General and administrative	(35,679)	(37,684)	(31,737)
Other expenses	(2,865)	(1,483)	(1,148)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(104,223)	(104,993)	(100,570)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	8,755	4,939	3,765
Other expenses	$ (1,491)	$ (1,071)	$ (2,785)