Reportable Segments - Consolidated Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	$ (38,332)	$ (37,776)	$ (77,356)	$ (75,753)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	0	0	0	52,507
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Income from other investments, net	9,680	10,265	20,739	20,635
General and administrative	(10,609)	(9,225)	(21,464)	(19,134)
Other expenses	(639)	(540)	(1,227)	(967)
Interest and related amortization	(26,249)	(26,024)	(52,322)	(52,417)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,064	3,226	1,271	4,759
Early debt retirement	0	(1,491)	(1,054)	(1,491)
Consolidated net income	48,853	49,085	119,577	169,620
Total assets	4,268,174	4,014,478	4,268,174	4,014,478	$ 4,151,275
Capital improvements	54,188	69,003	103,147	121,444
Property Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Income from other investments, net	9,680	10,265	20,739	20,635
Total assets	3,998,462	3,766,573	3,998,462	3,766,573
Capital improvements	37,552	28,501	70,157	52,906
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	269,712	247,905	269,712	247,905
Capital improvements	16,636	40,502	32,990	68,538
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	251,277	245,684	529,303	502,037
Operations expenses	(130,472)	(127,451)	(262,837)	(245,340)
Income from segment operations	120,805	118,233	266,466	256,697
Interest income	1,787	1,796	3,590	3,540
Depreciation and amortization	(38,332)	(37,776)	(77,356)	(75,753)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				52,507
Income (loss) from operations	84,260	82,253	192,700	236,991
Operating Segments | Property Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	238,155	233,848	500,629	479,864
Operations expenses	(119,296)	(116,893)	(237,194)	(225,863)
Income from segment operations	118,859	116,955	263,435	254,001
Interest income	1,061	950	2,136	1,844
Depreciation and amortization	(35,611)	(35,197)	(71,831)	(70,740)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				52,507
Income (loss) from operations	84,309	82,708	193,740	237,612
Operating Segments | Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	13,122	11,836	28,674	22,173
Operations expenses	(11,176)	(10,558)	(25,643)	(19,477)
Income from segment operations	1,946	1,278	3,031	2,696
Interest income	726	846	1,454	1,696
Depreciation and amortization	(2,721)	(2,579)	(5,525)	(5,013)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				0
Income (loss) from operations	(49)	(455)	(1,040)	(621)
Segment Reconciling Items
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Corporate interest income	4	7	8	14
Income from other investments, net	1,022	879	1,665	1,865
General and administrative	(10,609)	(9,225)	(21,464)	(19,134)
Other expenses	(639)	(540)	(1,227)	(967)
Interest and related amortization	(26,249)	(26,024)	(52,322)	(52,417)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,064	3,226	1,271	4,759
Early debt retirement	$ 0	$ (1,491)	$ (1,054)	$ (1,491)