Fair Value of Financial Instruments , By Balance Sheet Grouping (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables, net	$ 160,077	$ 163,496
Financial liabilities
Secured borrowings on collateralized receivables	107,731	129,182
Secured debt	2,815,957	2,867,356
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Financial liabilities
Long term debt excluding secured borrowings	2,888,572	2,908,799
Lines of credit	128,000	41,257
Other liabilities (contingent consideration)	4,640	6,976
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Financial liabilities
Secured borrowings on collateralized receivables	107,731
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables, net	112,798	115,797
Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables, net	106,924	128,246
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Financial liabilities
Long term debt excluding secured borrowings	2,757,649	2,726,770
Secured debt	107,731	129,182
Lines of credit	128,000	41,257
Other liabilities (contingent consideration)	4,640	6,976
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Receivables	112,798	115,797
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Collateralized Receivables [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Receivables	106,924	128,246
Secured Debt [Member]
Financial liabilities
Secured debt	3,124,303	3,079,238
Secured Debt [Member] \| Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Financial liabilities
Secured debt	107,731	129,182
Marketable Securities [Member] \| Reported Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	49,037	0
Marketable Securities [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 49,037	$ 0

Long term debt excluding secured borrowings, Fair Value Disclosure

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of account and note receivables due from other than related parties.

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Fair value portion of investment securities, including, but not limited to, marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date for the aggregate of other miscellaneous borrowings owed by the reporting entity.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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