Reportable Segments - Consolidated Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	$ (38,581)	$ (37,032)	$ (115,937)	$ (112,785)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	0	0	0	52,507
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Income from other investments, net	12,268	11,263	33,007	31,898
General and administrative	(9,692)	(8,710)	(31,156)	(27,844)
Other expenses	(658)	(1,460)	(1,885)	(2,427)
Interest and related amortization	(25,218)	(25,547)	(77,540)	(77,964)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	968	3,518	2,239	8,277
Early debt retirement	(9,732)	0	(10,786)	(1,491)
Consolidated net income	53,468	68,176	173,045	237,796
Total assets	4,260,413	4,137,471	4,260,413	4,137,471	$ 4,151,275
Capital improvements	51,914	68,344	155,061	189,788
Property Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Income from other investments, net	12,268	11,263	33,007	31,898
Total assets	3,997,064	3,871,379	3,997,064	3,871,379
Capital improvements	40,387	26,000	110,544	78,907
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Total assets	263,349	266,092	263,349	266,092
Capital improvements	11,527	42,344	44,517	110,881
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	281,757	262,300	811,060	764,337
Operations expenses	(148,605)	(133,753)	(411,442)	(379,093)
Income from segment operations	133,152	128,547	399,618	385,244
Interest income	1,798	1,825	5,388	5,364
Depreciation and amortization	(38,581)	(37,032)	(115,937)	(112,785)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				52,507
Income (loss) from operations	96,369	93,340	289,069	330,330
Operating Segments | Property Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	264,284	249,632	764,913	729,496
Operations expenses	(132,780)	(122,683)	(369,974)	(348,546)
Income from segment operations	131,504	126,949	394,939	380,950
Interest income	1,104	985	3,240	2,829
Depreciation and amortization	(35,878)	(34,273)	(107,709)	(105,013)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				52,507
Income (loss) from operations	96,730	93,661	290,470	331,273
Operating Segments | Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operations revenues	17,473	12,668	46,147	34,841
Operations expenses	(15,825)	(11,070)	(41,468)	(30,547)
Income from segment operations	1,648	1,598	4,679	4,294
Interest income	694	840	2,148	2,535
Depreciation and amortization	(2,703)	(2,759)	(8,228)	(7,772)
Gain on sale of real estate, net				0
Income (loss) from operations	(361)	(321)	(1,401)	(943)
Segment Reconciling Items
Reconciliation to Consolidated net income:
Corporate interest income	3	6	11	21
Income from other investments, net	1,428	7,029	3,093	8,894
General and administrative	(9,692)	(8,710)	(31,156)	(27,844)
Other expenses	(658)	(1,460)	(1,885)	(2,427)
Interest and related amortization	(25,218)	(25,547)	(77,540)	(77,964)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	968	3,518	2,239	8,277
Early debt retirement	$ (9,732)	$ 0	$ (10,786)	$ (1,491)