Sun Communities (SUI) 10-Q 24 Oct 19 2019 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 17, 2019
Cover page.
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-12616
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SUI
Entity Registrant Name	SUN COMMUNITIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000912593
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		90,687,618
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Tax Identification Number	38-2730780
Entity Address, Address Line One	27777 Franklin Rd,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 200,
Entity Address, City or Town	Southfield,
Entity Address, State or Province	MI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	48034
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
City Area Code	248
Local Phone Number	208-2500

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
ASSETS
Land	$ 1,311,103	$ 1,201,945
Land improvements and buildings	6,200,895	5,586,250
Rental homes and improvements	614,002	571,661
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	251,363	201,090
Investment property	8,377,363	7,560,946
Accumulated depreciation	(1,619,924)	(1,442,630)
Investment property, net (including $341,563 and $308,171 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	6,757,439	6,118,316
Cash and cash equivalents	26,198	50,311
Marketable securities	64,818	49,037
Inventory of manufactured homes	55,234	49,199
Notes and other receivables, net	174,934	160,077
Collateralized receivables, net	93,054	106,924
Other assets, net (including $22,598 and $19,809 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	226,177	176,162
Total Assets	7,397,854	6,710,026
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (including $47,256 and $44,172 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	2,967,128	2,815,957
Other Borrowings	93,669	107,731
Lines of credit		128,000
Distributions payable	69,726	63,249
Customer Advances and Deposits	137,797	133,698
Other liabilities (including $28,031 and $6,914 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	242,119	157,862
Total Liabilities	3,720,983	3,479,112
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Common, Carrying Amount	27,461	21,976
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized: 180,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: 90,690 September 30, 2019 and 86,357 December 31, 2018	907	864
Additional paid-in capital	4,854,958	4,398,949
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,825)	(4,504)
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(1,353,214)	(1,288,486)
Total Sun Communities, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,499,826	3,106,823
Noncontrolling interests:
Common and preferred OP units	49,540	53,354
Consolidated variable interest entities	7,854	7,145
Total noncontrolling interests	57,394	60,499
Total Stockholders' Equity	3,557,220	3,167,322
Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders' Equity	7,397,854	6,710,026
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
LIABILITIES
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	31,402	31,739
Series A-4 preferred OP units
LIABILITIES
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	9,540	9,877
Series D Preferred OP Units
LIABILITIES
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	51,248	0
Preferred Equity, Mandatorily Redeemable [Member]
LIABILITIES
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable	35,249	35,277
Aspen Series B3 Preferred Operating Partnership Units [Member]
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (including $47,256 and $44,172 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	34,663
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable	34,663	37,338
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (including $47,256 and $44,172 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	93,669	$ 107,731
Lines of credit	$ 140,632

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investment property, net	$ 6,757,439	$ 6,118,316
Other assets	226,177	176,162
Secured debt	2,967,128	2,815,957
Other liabilities	$ 242,119	$ 157,862
Common Stock, Par Value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	180,000	180,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued	90,690	86,357
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	90,690	86,357
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Series A-4 Preferred Stock, Par Value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A-4 Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,052	1,063
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investment property, net	$ 341,563	$ 308,171
Other assets	22,598	19,809
Secured debt	47,256	44,172
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable	35,249	35,277
Other liabilities	$ 28,031	$ 6,914

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
REVENUES
Income from real property	$ 256,423	$ 229,607	$ 699,301	$ 625,488
Revenue from home sales	49,805	46,131	136,665	122,248
Rental home revenue	14,444	13,589	42,827	39,957
Ancillary revenue	31,999	27,608	57,746	46,207
Interest income	4,770	5,256	14,489	15,849
Brokerage commissions and other revenues, net	5,002	1,222	11,190	3,073
Total Revenues	362,443	323,413	962,218	852,822
Expenses
Real estate taxes	15,399	14,533	46,455	42,445
Property operating and maintenance	79,095	71,656	202,892	181,977
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	36,318	33,692	100,030	91,195
Rental home operating and maintenance	6,008	6,236	15,887	16,778
Ancillary expenses	18,707	15,361	38,288	28,985
Home selling expenses	3,988	4,043	10,938	11,319
General and Administrative Expense	22,975	19,763	68,559
General and administrative expenses				60,972
Depreciation and amortization	76,532	71,982	229,241	206,192
Loss on extinguishment of debt	12,755	528	13,478	1,255
Interest expense	32,219	33,932	99,894	98,321
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	1,216	1,142	3,491	2,551
Total Expenses	305,553	273,041	830,455	740,003
Income Before Other Items	56,890	50,372	131,763	112,819
Remeasurement of marketable securities	12,661	0	16,548	0
Catastrophic weather related charges	341	173	1,302	(1,987)
Other income / (expense), net	(4,408)	1,231	(1,489)	(3,214)
Current tax expense	(420)
Provision for state income taxes	(400)	(213)	(906)	(612)
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	(349)	199	(36)	434
Net Income	64,451	51,715	146,694	109,486
Less: Preferred return to preferred OP units	(1,599)	(1,152)	(4,640)	(3,335)
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,422)	(4,071)	(9,048)	(8,392)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	57,430	46,492	133,006	97,759
Less: Preferred stock distribution	(428)	(432)	(1,288)	(1,305)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	$ 57,002	$ 46,060	$ 131,718	$ 96,454
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	89,847	81,599	87,499	80,022
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	90,332	82,081	87,931	80,024
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share (see Note 14)	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 1.49	$ 1.19
Diluted earnings per share (see Note 14)	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 1.50	$ 1.19
Distributions from Affiliate	$ 77	$ 126	$ 814	$ 59

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 64,451	$ 51,715	$ 146,694	$ 109,486
Foreign currency translation gain / (loss) adjustment	1,717	1,890	(1,771)	1,565
Total Comprehensive Income	62,734	53,605	148,465	107,921
Less: Comprehensive Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,346)	(4,167)	(9,140)	(8,319)
Comprehensive Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	$ 57,388	$ 49,438	$ 139,325	$ 99,602

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities		$ 398,293,000	$ 301,204,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in properties		(412,092,000)	(257,017,000)
Acquisitions of properties, net of cash acquired		(403,889,000)	(305,724,000)
Proceeds from dispositions of assets and depreciated homes, net		43,157,000	34,825,000
Issuance of notes and other receivables		(30,186,000)	(216,000)
Repayments of notes and other receivables		3,249,000	2,880,000
Repayments of notes and other receivables		(42,896,000)	(19,851,000)
Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates		43,406,000	0
Net Cash Used For Investing Activities		(799,251,000)	(545,103,000)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock, OP units, and preferred OP units, net		441,871,000	624,152,000
Borrowings on lines of credit		2,681,980,000	1,187,098,000
Payments on lines of credit		(2,669,348,000)	(1,228,907,000)
Proceeds from issuance of other debt		523,721,000	228,336,000
Payments on other debt		(372,219,000)	(275,401,000)
Prepayment penalty on debt		(12,610,000)	(2,024,000)
Distributions to stockholders, OP unit holders, and preferred OP unit holders		(205,639,000)	(177,926,000)
Payments for deferred financing costs		(6,568,000)	(1,645,000)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities		1,618,000	0
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities		380,131,000	349,578,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		291,000	(94,000)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(20,536,000)	105,585,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	$ 62,262,000	62,262,000	23,509,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period (see Note 16)		41,726,000	129,094,000
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest (net of capitalized interest of $5,673 and $3,216 respectively)	99,925,000		94,801,000
Cash paid for interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	3,132,000		2,551,000
Cash paid (refunds) for income taxes	818,000		741,000
Noncash investing and financing activities
Reduction in secured borrowing balance	14,062,000		16,093,000
Change in distributions declared and outstanding	6,442,000		7,991,000
Conversion of common and preferred OP units	1,411,000		1,489,000
Conversion Of Series A Four Preferred Stock	337,000		675,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues, Series A-3 Preferred OP Units	3,900,000		3,120,000
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Escrow	1,395,000
Other Noncash Income Tax Expense		12,597,000	0
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Noncash investing and financing activities
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Value Of Shares Issued	51,930,000
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Noncash investing and financing activities
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Value Of Shares Issued	0		21,976,000
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Noncash investing and financing activities
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Value Of Shares Issued	$ 0		35,277,000
Series B-3 Preferred OP Units [Member]
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Redemption of Series A-4 preferred stock and OP units		$ (2,675,000)	$ (4,105,000)

Consolidated Statements Of Ca_2

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Capitalized interest		$ 3,216

Consolidated Statement Of Stock

Consolidated Statement Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests	Common OP Units	Series D Preferred OP Units	Series A-4 Preferred Stock	Series A-4 Preferred StockAdditional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 2,706,753
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	43,066
Temporary equity, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	42,906
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,663,687	$ 797	$ 3,758,533	$ (1,162,001)	$ 1,102	$ 65,256
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	(3,296)	2	(3,298)
Conversion of OP units	(59)		(342)			283
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	33,601
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(60,218)
Stock Issued During Period, Including Temporary Equity, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities	(1)
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	3,579		3,489	90
Foreign currency translation	1,861				1,772	89
Net income	33,530			31,507		2,023
Distributions	(60,047)			57,159		2,888
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	2,635,651	799	3,759,066	(1,187,563)	(670)	64,019
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	43,066
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of stock							$ (60)
Net income	71
Distributions	(171)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	63,745
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,663,687	797	3,758,533	(1,162,001)	1,102	65,256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	2,691,982	809	3,854,057	(1,223,394)	(2,184)	62,694
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	43,066
Temporary equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	63,741
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,663,687	797	3,758,533	(1,162,001)	1,102	65,256
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Foreign currency translation	1,565
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	3,222,700	864	4,396,092	(1,237,428)	(390)	63,562
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,678,557
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	42,906
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of stock	(675)						(233)
Net income	48
Distributions	(170)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	63,745
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	2,635,651	799	3,759,066	(1,187,563)	(670)	64,019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	89,265	$ 10	89,255
Conversion of units		0
Conversion of OP units	(234)		(778)			(544)			$ (675)	$ (675)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(21,869)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	24,170
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(60,915)
Stock Issued During Period, Including Temporary Equity, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities	1
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	4,374		4,283	91
Foreign currency translation	(1,594)				1,514	80
Net income	24,122			21,943		2,179
Distributions	(60,745)			(57,865)		(2,880)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	2,691,982	$ 809	3,854,057	(1,223,394)	(2,184)	62,694
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,755,727
Conversion of stock							(49)
Net income	106
Distributions	(168)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	63,741
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	538,183	$ 54	538,129
Conversion of units		1
Conversion of OP units	(49)		(368)			(320)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(107)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	51,715
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(64,785)
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	3,604		3,538	66
Foreign currency translation	1,890				(1,794)	(96)
Net income	51,609			47,643		3,966
Distributions	(64,617)			(61,743)		(2,874)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	3,222,700	$ 864	4,396,092	(1,237,428)	(390)	63,562
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,286,441
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,230,914
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	63,592
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of stock							0
Net income	178
Distributions	(528)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	115,428
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	3,167,322	864	4,398,949	(1,288,486)	(4,504)	60,499
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	(4,321)	$ 1	(4,322)
Conversion of units		0
Conversion of OP units			(280)			280
Temporary Equity, Interest in Subsidiary Earnings	256
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	37,127
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(68,681)
Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued	256			65		191
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	3,793		3,719	74
Temporary Equity, Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues								$ 51,930
Foreign currency translation	(1,575)				(1,498)	(77)
Net income	36,949			36,086		863
Distributions	(68,153)		15	(65,214)		(2,954)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	3,136,909	$ 865	4,398,641	(1,317,605)	(3,006)	58,014
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	63,592
Temporary equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	119,651
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	3,167,322	864	4,398,949	(1,288,486)	(4,504)	60,499
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Foreign currency translation	(1,771)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	3,557,220	907	4,854,958	(1,353,214)	(2,825)	57,394
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,252,337
Temporary equity, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	115,428
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of stock	(337)						$ (112)
Net income	15
Distributions	(558)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	114,553
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	3,136,909	865	4,398,641	(1,317,605)	(3,006)	58,014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	447,741	$ 37	447,704
Conversion of units		5
Conversion of OP units	(112)		(242)			135			$ (337)	$ (337)
Temporary Equity, Interest in Subsidiary Earnings	117
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	45,116
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(71,709)
Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued	117			308		(191)
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	4,498		4,414	84
Foreign currency translation	(1,913)				(1,822)	(91)
Net income	45,101			42,531		2,570
Distributions	(71,151)		(15)	(68,494)		(2,642)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	3,565,343	$ 907	4,851,323	(1,343,792)	(1,184)	58,089
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,679,896
Net income	2,533
Distributions	(627)
Temporary equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	119,651
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	(1,549)		(1,549)
Conversion of OP units			(884)			884
Temporary Equity, Interest in Subsidiary Earnings	788
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	2,404
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest and Returns from Preferred Stock And Temporary Equity	64,451
Dividends, Including Temporary Equity, Cash	(71,691)
Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued	93			93
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Interest in Subsidiary Earnings	695
Share-based compensation - amortization and forfeitures	4,382		4,300	82
Foreign currency translation	1,717				1,641	76
Net income	61,918			59,028		2,890
Distributions	(71,064)			(68,439)		(2,625)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	3,557,220	$ 907	$ 4,854,958	$ (1,353,214)	$ (2,825)	$ 57,394
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Temporary Equity And Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 3,676,871

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and all wholly-owned or majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries, including Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and Sun Home Services, Inc. (“SHS”) are referred to herein as the “Company,” “us,” “we,” and “our.” We follow accounting standards set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). FASB sets generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which we follow to ensure that we consistently report our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. References to GAAP issued by the FASB in these footnotes are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information and in accordance with GAAP. Pursuant to the SEC rules and regulations we present interim disclosures and certain information and footnote disclosures as required. Accordingly, the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, including adjustments of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements in order to conform to current period presentation. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 as filed with the SEC on February 21, 2019 (the “ 2018 Annual Report”). These statements have been prepared on a basis that is substantially consistent with the accounting principles applied in our 2018 Annual Report.

Revenue

Revenue	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue	Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue The following tables details our revenue by major source (in thousands): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues Income from real property $ 256,423 $ — $ 256,423 $ 229,607 $ — $ 229,607 Revenue from home sales — 49,805 49,805 — 46,131 46,131 Rental home revenue — 14,444 14,444 — 13,589 13,589 Ancillary revenue 31,999 — 31,999 27,608 — 27,608 Interest income 4,770 — 4,770 5,256 — 5,256 Brokerage commissions and other revenues, net 5,002 — 5,002 1,222 — 1,222 Total Revenues $ 298,194 $ 64,249 $ 362,443 $ 263,693 $ 59,720 $ 323,413 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues Income from real property $ 699,301 $ — $ 699,301 $ 625,488 $ — $ 625,488 Revenue from home sales — 136,665 136,665 — 122,248 122,248 Rental home revenue — 42,827 42,827 — 39,957 39,957 Ancillary revenue 57,746 — 57,746 46,207 — 46,207 Interest income 14,489 — 14,489 15,849 — 15,849 Brokerage commissions and other revenues, net 11,190 — 11,190 3,073 — 3,073 Total Revenues $ 782,726 $ 179,492 $ 962,218 $ 690,617 $ 162,205 $ 852,822 Revenue Recognition Policies and Performance Obligations On January 1, 2018, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers ” and the other related ASUs and amendments to the codification (collectively “ASC 606”). The core principle of ASC 606 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. A five-step transactional analysis is required to determine how and when to recognize revenue. ASC 606 applies to all contracts with customers, except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB accounting standards codification. As a real estate owner and operator, the majority of our revenue is derived from site and home leases that are accounted for pursuant to ASC 842 “ Leases .” For transactions in the scope of ASC 606, we recognize revenue when control of goods or services transfers to the customer, in the amount that we expect to receive for the transfer of goods or provision of services. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any change to the timing and pattern of revenue recognition. Accordingly, retrospective application to prior periods or a cumulative catch-up adjustment was unnecessary. Income from real property - Residents in our communities lease the site on which their home is located, and either own or lease their home. Resident leases are generally for one-year or month-to-month terms, and are renewable by mutual agreement from us and the resident, or in some cases, as provided by jurisdictional statute. Lease revenues for sites and homes fall under the scope of ASC 842, and are accounted for as operating leases with straight-line recognition. Income from real property includes income from site leases for annual manufactured homes (“MH”) residents, site leases for annual recreational vehicle (“RV”) residents and site rentals to transient RV residents. Non-lease components of our site lease contracts, which are primarily provision of utility services, are accounted for with the site lease as a single lease under ASC 842. Additionally, we include collections of real estate taxes from residents within Income from real property. Revenue from home sales - Our taxable REIT subsidiary, SHS, sells manufactured homes to current and prospective residents in our communities. Prior to adoption of ASC 606, we recognized revenue for home sales pursuant to ASC 605 “ Revenue Recognition, ” as manufactured homes are tangible personal property that can be located on any land parcel. Manufactured homes are not permanent fixtures or improvements to the underlying real estate, and were therefore not considered to be subject to the guidance in ASC 360-20 “ Real Estate Sales ” by the Company. In accordance with the core principle of ASC 606, we recognize revenue from home sales at the time of closing when control of the home transfers to the customer. After closing of the sale transaction, we have no remaining performance obligation. Rental home revenue - is comprised of rental agreements whereby we lease homes to residents in our communities. We account for these revenues under ASC 842. Ancillary revenue - is primarily composed of proceeds from restaurant, golf, merchandise and other activities at our RV communities and is included in the scope of ASC 606. Revenues are recognized at point of sale when control of the good or service transfers to the customer and our performance obligation is satisfied. In addition, leasing of short-term vacation home rentals is included within Ancillary revenue and falls within the scope of ASC 842. Sales and other taxes that we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from the transaction price. Interest income - is earned primarily on our notes and collateralized receivables, which includes installment loans for manufactured homes purchased by the Company from loan originators and transferred loans that previously did not meet the requirements for sale accounting. Interest income on these receivables is accrued based on the unpaid principal balances of the underlying loans on a level yield basis over the life of the loans. Interest income is not in the scope of ASC 606. Refer to Note 4 , “ Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets ” and Note 5 , “ Notes and Other Receivables ” for additional information. Broker commissions and other revenues, net - is primarily comprised of brokerage commissions for sales of manufactured homes, where we act as agent and arrange for a third party to transfer a manufactured home to a customer within one of our communities. Brokerage commission revenues are recognized on a net basis at closing, when the transaction is completed and our performance obligations have been fulfilled. Loan loss reserve expenses for our collateralized receivables and notes receivables are also included herein. Refer to Note 4 , “ Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets ” and Note 5 , “ Notes and Other Receivables ” for additional information regarding our loan loss reserves. Contract Balances As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , we had $ 20.1 million and $ 16.1

Real Estate Acquisitions

Real Estate Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Real Estate Acquisitions	Real Estate Acquisitions 2019 Acquisitions Communities For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , we acquired the following communities: Community Name Type Sites Development Sites State Month Acquired Glen Ellis RV 244 40 NH September Leisure Point Resort (1) MH / RV 502 — DE September Reunion Lake RV 202 69 LA July River Plantation RV 309 — TN May Massey’s Landing RV RV 291 — DE February Shelby Properties (2) MH 1,308 — MI February Buena Vista MH 400 — AZ February Country Village Estates (3) MH 518 — OR January Hid’n Pines RV RV 321 — ME January Hacienda del Rio MH (Age-Restricted) 730 — FL January Total 4,825 109 (1) Contains 201 MH sites and 301 RV sites. (2) Contains two MH communities. (3) In conjunction with the acquisition, we issued Series D Preferred Operating Partnership (“OP”) Units. As of September 30, 2019 , 488,958 Series D Preferred OP Units were outstanding. The following table summarizes the amounts of assets acquired net of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date and the consideration paid for the acquisitions completed for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in thousands): At Acquisition Date (1) Consideration Investment in property Inventory of manufactured homes In-place leases and other intangible assets Other assets (liabilities), net Total identifiable assets acquired net of liabilities assumed Cash and escrow Debt assumed Series D Preferred OP units Total consideration Glen Ellis $ 5,955 $ — $ — $ (79 ) $ 5,876 $ 1,976 $ 3,900 $ — $ 5,876 Leisure Point Resort 43,632 18 850 (678 ) 43,822 43,822 — — 43,822 Reunion Lake 23,493 — — (1,153 ) 22,340 22,340 — — 22,340 River Plantation 22,589 75 — — 22,664 22,664 — — 22,664 Massey's Landing (2) 19,780 — 220 (446 ) 19,554 19,554 — — 19,554 Shelby Properties 85,969 2,011 6,520 (1,015 ) 93,485 93,485 — — 93,485 Buena Vista 20,221 439 1,590 (93 ) 22,157 22,157 — — 22,157 Country Village 62,784 — 2,020 31 64,835 12,905 — 51,930 64,835 Hid'n Pines 10,680 — 70 (233 ) 10,517 10,517 — — 10,517 Hacienda del Rio 111,971 15 3,280 (237 ) 115,029 115,029 — — 115,029 Total $ 407,074 $ 2,558 $ 14,550 $ (3,903 ) $ 420,279 $ 364,449 $ 3,900 $ 51,930 $ 420,279 (1) The purchase price allocations are preliminary and may be adjusted as final valuations are determined. (2) As of September 30, 2019, Massey’s Landing has an incremental estimated deferred purchase price of $ 12.6 million which is recorded within Land improvements and buildings, and Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be allocated as additional purchase price consideration once finalized. As of September 30, 2019 , the Company has incurred $ 9.3 million of additional capitalized transaction costs which have been allocated among the various categories above. Agreement and Plan of Merger - Jensen Portfolio On August 22, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a 31 -community manufactured housing portfolio (the “Jensen Portfolio”) for $343.6 million . The Jensen Portfolio has 5,230 operating sites and 466 additional sites available for development. The 31 communities are located in eight states across the eastern United States. The purchase price will be paid through a combination of $274.8 million shares of common stock and cash consideration. We expect to acquire the Jensen Portfolio no later than October 31, 2019. However, the closing is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including obtaining certain third party consents. If these conditions are not satisfied or waived, or if the merger agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, then the acquisition will not be consummated. Land for Development In August 2019, the Company acquired land in New Braunfels, Texas, in association with our Sun NG Whitewater RV variable interest entity, for the development of Whitewater RV Resort (“Whitewater”) for total consideration of $4.7 million. Ground Leases In September 2019, the Company entered into a 66-year Temporary Occupancy and Use Permit with the Port of San Diego to construct and operate a new RV resort in Chula Vista. Refer to Note 18 . “ Leases ” for disclosures on accounting treatment. In August 2019, the Company acquired Chincoteague Island KOA RV Resort (“Chincoteague”), in Chincoteague Island, Virginia for total consideration of $ 19.5 million. The sellers of Chincoteague continue to operate the property. Refer to Note 18 . “ Leases ” for disclosures on accounting treatment. In April 2019, the Company acquired Strafford/Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA RV Resort ("Strafford") in Strafford, New Hampshire for total consideration of $ 2.7 million. The sellers of Strafford continue to operate the property. Refer to Note 18 . “ Leases ” for disclosures on accounting treatment. In March 2019, the Company entered into a four year Temporary Occupancy and Use Permit with the Port of San Diego to operate a RV resort located in Chula Vista, CA until such time as a new RV resort is constructed in the area. Concurrent with the transaction, we purchased tangible personal property from the prior owner of the RV resort for $ 0.3 million. Refer to Note 18 . “ Leases ” for disclosures on accounting treatment. Refer to Note 19 , “ Subsequent Events ” for information regarding real estate acquisition activity after September 30, 2019 . The total amount of revenues and net income included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 related to the acquisitions completed in 2019 are set forth in the following table (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Total revenues $ 14,010 $ 26,938 Net income $ 6,308 $ 11,181 The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the results of our operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , as if the properties acquired in 2019 had been acquired on January 1, 2018 . The unaudited pro forma results reflect certain adjustments for items that are not expected to have a continuing impact, such as adjustments for transaction costs incurred, management fees, and purchase accounting. The information presented below has been prepared for comparative purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of either future results of operations or the results of operations that would have actually occurred had the acquisition been consummated on January 1, 2018 (in thousands, except per-share data): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Total revenues $ 369,296 $ 335,548 $ 971,477 $ 878,077 Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 59,317 $ 48,289 $ 133,868 $ 101,737 Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - basic $ 0.68 $ 0.61 $ 1.53 $ 1.27 Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - diluted $ 0.68 $ 0.60 $ 1.52 $ 1.27 2018 Acquisitions In 2018 we acquired the following communities: Community Name Type Sites Development Sites State Month Acquired Leaf Verde RV Resort RV 376 — AZ October Archview RV 114 50 UT August Petoskey KOA RV 210 — MI August The Sands RV and Golf Resort RV (Age Restricted) 507 — CA July Sun NG RV Resorts LLC (1)(2) RV 2,700 940 Various June Silver Creek RV 264 176 MI June Highway West (1) RV 536 — UT & OR June Compass RV RV 175 — FL May Total 4,882 1,166 (1) Highway West and Sun NG RV Resorts LLC are comprised of 4 RV and 10 RV resorts, respectively. (2) Refer to Note 8, “Consolidated Variable Interest Entities,” Note 9, “Debt and Lines of Credit,” and Note 10, “Equity and Temporary Equity” in our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. The following table summarizes the amounts of assets acquired net of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date and the consideration paid for the acquisitions completed in 2018 (in thousands): At Acquisition Date Consideration Investment in property In-place leases and other intangible assets Debt assumed Other liabilities, net Total identifiable assets acquired net of liabilities assumed Cash Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC Total consideration Leaf Verde $ 11,587 $ 60 $ — $ — $ 11,647 $ 11,647 $ — $ — $ 11,647 Archview 14,550 — — — 14,550 14,550 — — 14,550 Petoskey KOA 8,730 270 — — 9,000 9,000 — — 9,000 Sands 13,790 460 — — 14,250 14,250 — — 14,250 Sun NG Resorts 240,649 16,339 (3,120 ) (11,990 ) 241,878 184,625 35,277 21,976 241,878 Silver Creek 7,250 — — — 7,250 7,250 — — 7,250 Highway West 36,500 — — — 36,500 36,500 — — 36,500 Compass 13,930 70 — — 14,000 14,000 — — 14,000 Total $ 346,986 $ 17,199 $ (3,120 ) $ (11,990 ) $ 349,075 $ 291,822 $ 35,277 $ 21,976 $ 349,075 In 2018 , we acquired the following land for expansion / development: Name Location Type Expansion / Development Sites Cost (millions) Month Acquired Ocean West McKinleyville, CA MH 26 $ 0.2 December Water Oak Country Club Estates Lady Lake, FL MH 296 1.9 November Oak Crest Austin, TX MH 220 4.2 October Pecan Park Jacksonville, FL RV 158 1.3 September Smith Creek Crossing Granby, CO MH 310 0.9 September Apple Carr Egelston, MI MH 121 0.2 May River Run Ranch Granby, CO MH / RV 1,144 5.3 May Total 2,275 $ 14.0

Collateralized Receivables and

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Transfers Of Financial Assets	Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets We previously completed various transactions with an unrelated entity involving our notes receivable under which we received cash proceeds in exchange for relinquishing our right, title, and interest in certain notes receivable. We have no further obligations or rights with respect to the control, management, administration, servicing, or collection of the installment notes receivable. However, we are subject to certain recourse provisions requiring us to purchase the underlying homes collateralizing such notes, in the event of a note default and subsequent repossession of the home by the unrelated entity. The recourse provisions are considered to be a form of continuing involvement, and therefore these transferred loans did not meet the requirements for sale accounting. We continue to recognize these transferred loans on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and refer to them as collateralized receivables. The cash proceeds from the transfer have been recognized as secured borrowings on collateralized receivables within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The collateralized receivables earn interest income, and the secured borrowings accrue interest expense at the same interest rates. In the event of a note default and subsequent repossession of a manufactured home by the unrelated entity, the terms of the agreement require us to repurchase the manufactured home. Default is defined as the failure to repay the installment note receivable according to contractual terms. The repurchase price is calculated as a percentage of the outstanding principal balance of the collateralized receivable, plus any outstanding late fees, accrued interest, legal fees, and escrow advances associated with the installment note receivable. The percentage used to determine the repurchase price of the outstanding principal balance on the installment note receivable is based on the number of payments made on the note. In general, the repurchase price is determined as follows: Number of Payments Repurchase Percentage Less than or equal to 15 100 % Greater than 15 but less than 64 90 % Equal to or greater than 64 but less than 120 65 % 120 or more 50 % The balance of the collateralized receivables was $93.1 million (net of allowance of $0.6 million ) and $106.9 million (net of allowance of $0.8 million ) as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. The receivables had a weighted average interest rate and maturity of 9.9 percent and 13.5 years as of September 30, 2019 , and 9.9 percent and 14.1 years as of December 31, 2018 . The outstanding balance on the secured borrowing was $93.7 million and $107.7 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. The amount of interest income and expense recognized was $2.3 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $7.1 million and $8.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The balances of the collateralized receivables and secured borrowings are reduced as the related collateralized receivables are collected from the customers, or as the underlying collateral is repurchased. The change in the aggregate gross principal balance of the collateralized receivables is as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ 107,731 Principal payments and payoffs from our customers (9,110 ) Principal reduction from repurchased homes (4,952 ) Total activity (14,062 ) Ending balance $ 93,669 The following table sets forth the allowance for the collateralized receivables as of September 30, 2019 (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ (807 ) Lower of cost or market write-downs 135 Decrease to reserve balance 57 Total activity 192 Ending balance $ (615 )

Notes And Other Receivables

Notes And Other Receivables	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Long-term Notes and Loans, by Type, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]
Notes And Other Receivables	Notes and Other Receivables The following table sets forth certain information regarding notes and other receivables (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net $ 100,431 $ 112,798 Other receivables, net 74,503 47,279 Total notes and other receivables, net $ 174,934 $ 160,077 Installment Notes Receivable on Manufactured Homes Our investment in installment notes of $100.4 million (net of allowance of $0.7 million ) and $112.8 million (net of allowance of $0.7 million ) as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively, are collateralized by manufactured homes. The notes represent financing to purchasers of manufactured homes primarily located in our communities and require monthly principal and interest payments. The notes had a net weighted average interest rate (net of servicing costs) and maturity of 8.0 percent and 16.0 years as of September 30, 2019 , and 8.0 percent and 16.6 years as of December 31, 2018 , respectively. The change in the aggregate gross principal balance of the installment notes receivable is as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ 113,495 Investment in installment notes 248 Principal payments and payoffs from our customers (6,242 ) Principal reduction from repossessed homes (6,380 ) Total activity (12,374 ) Ending balance $ 101,121 Allowance for Losses for Installment Notes Receivable The following table sets forth the allowance change for the installment notes receivable as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ (697 ) Lower of cost or market write-downs 147 Increase to reserve balance (140 ) Total activity 7 Ending balance $ (690 ) Other Receivables As of September 30, 2019 , other receivables were comprised of amounts due from: residents for rent, utility charges, fees and other pass through charges of $8.6 million (net of allowance of $1.8 million ); home sale proceeds of $20.1 million ; insurance receivables of $9.6 million , notes receivables of $30.2 million and other receivables of $6.0 million . As of December 31, 2018 , other receivables were comprised of amounts due from: residents for rent, utility charges, fees and other pass through charges of $7.1 million (net of allowance of $1.5 million ); home sale proceeds of $16.1 million ; and insurance and other receivables of $24.1 million .

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	Intangible Assets Our intangible assets include in-place leases, franchise agreements and other intangible assets. These intangible assets are recorded in Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 842, below market leases are now classified as a right of use asset. The gross carrying amounts, and accumulated amortization are as follows (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Intangible Asset Useful Life Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization In-place leases 7 years $ 119,184 $ (70,321 ) $ 103,547 $ (59,068 ) Franchise agreements and other intangible assets 7 - 20 years 16,944 (2,555 ) 16,641 (1,942 ) Total $ 136,128 $ (72,876 ) $ 120,188 $ (61,010 ) Total amortization expenses related to the intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Intangible Asset Amortization Expense September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 In-place leases $ 3,781 $ 3,320 $ 11,253 $ 10,305 Franchise fees and other intangible assets 205 717 614 755 Total $ 3,986 $ 4,037 $ 11,867 $ 11,060 We anticipate amortization expense for our intangible assets to be as follows for the next five years (in thousands) Year Remainder of 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Estimated expense $ 3,873 $ 14,373 $ 13,981 $ 9,379 $ 6,004

Investment In Affiliates

Investment In Affiliates	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Investment In Affiliates	Investment in Affiliates Investments in joint ventures that are not consolidated, nor recorded at cost, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting as prescribed in FASB ASC Topic 323, “Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures.” Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates are recorded within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Equity income and loss are recorded in the Income / (loss) from nonconsolidated affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. RezPlot Systems LLC (“Rezplot”) At September 30, 2019 , the Company had a 50 percent ownership interest in RezPlot, a RV reservation software technology company, acquired in January 2019. Sungenia JV At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company had a 50 percent interest in Sungenia JV, a joint venture (“JV”) formed between the Company and Ingenia Communities Group in November 2018, to establish and grow a manufactured housing community development program in Australia. GTSC LLC ( “GTSC” ) At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company had a 40 percent ownership interest in GTSC, which engages in acquiring, holding and selling loans secured, directly or indirectly, by manufactured homes located in communities of Sun Communities. Origen Financial Services, LLC (“OFS LLC”) At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company had a 22.9 percent ownership interest in OFS LLC, an end-to-end online resident screening and document management suite. The investment balance in each nonconsolidated affiliate is as follows (in millions): Investment September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Investment in RezPlot $ 4.7 $ — Investment in Sungenia JV 9.9 0.7 Investment in GTSC (1) 15.8 29.8 Investment in OFS LLC 0.3 0.1 Total $ 30.7 $ 30.6 (1) The decrease in investment balance is primarily due to return of capital. The Equity income / (loss) from each nonconsolidated affiliate is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Equity income September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 RezPlot equity loss $ (356 ) $ — $ (804 ) $ — Sungenia JV equity loss (127 ) — (185 ) — GTSC equity income 478 126 1,611 59 OFS LLC equity income 82 — 192 — Total equity income $ 77 $ 126 $ 814 $ 59

Consolidated Variable Interest

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
DisclosureofVariableInterestEntities [Abstract]
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities	Consolidated Variable Interest Entities The Operating Partnership We consolidate the Operating Partnership under the guidance set forth in FASB ASC Topic 810 “Consolidation.” ASU 2015-02 modified the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities. We evaluated the application of ASU 2015-02 and concluded that the Operating Partnership now meets the criteria of a VIE. Our significant asset is our investment in the Operating Partnership, and consequently, substantially all of our assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. We are the sole general partner and generally have the power to manage and have complete control over the Operating Partnership and the obligation to absorb its losses or the right to receive its benefits. Sun NG RV Resorts LLC (“Sun NG Resorts”); Rudgate Village SPE, LLC, Rudgate Clinton SPE, LLC, and Rudgate Clinton Estates SPE, LLC (collectively, “Rudgate”); Sun NG Whitewater RV LLC ( “Whitewater Resorts” ) We consolidate Sun NG Resorts, Rudgate, and Whitewater Resorts under the guidance set forth in FASB ASC Topic 810 “Consolidation.” We concluded that each of them is a VIE where we are the primary beneficiary, as we have the power to direct the significant activities, absorb the significant losses and receive the significant benefits from the entity. Refer to Note 3 , “ Real Estate Acquisitions ,” Note 9 , “ Debt and Lines of Credit ,” and Note 10 , “ Equity and Temporary Equity ” for additional information on Sun NG Resorts. The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets after eliminations (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Assets Investment property, net $ 341,563 $ 308,171 Other assets, net 22,598 19,809 Total Assets $ 364,161 $ 327,980 Liabilities and Other Equity Debt $ 47,256 $ 44,172 Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts - mandatorily redeemable 35,249 35,277 Other liabilities 28,031 6,914 Total Liabilities 110,536 86,363 Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC 27,461 21,976 Noncontrolling interests 7,854 7,145 Total Liabilities and Other Equity $ 145,851 $ 115,484 Investment property, net and other assets, net related to the consolidated VIEs comprised approximately 4.9 percent of our consolidated total assets at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Debt, Preferred Equity and other liabilities comprised approximately 3.0 percent and 2.6 percent of our consolidated total liabilities at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Equity Interests and Noncontrolling interests related to the consolidated VIEs, on an absolute basis, comprised approximately 1.0 percent and less than 1.0 percent of our consolidated total equity at September 30, 2019 and at December 31, 2018

Debt And Lines Of Credit

Debt And Lines Of Credit	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	Debt and Lines of Credit The following table sets forth certain information regarding debt including premiums, discounts and deferred financing costs (in thousands): Carrying Amount Weighted Average Years to Maturity Weighted Average Interest Rates September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Collateralized term loans - Life Companies $ 1,320,199 $ 1,259,158 16.2 14.4 4.0 % 3.9 % Collateralized term loans - FNMA 870,627 770,417 6.1 5.1 4.0 % 4.4 % Collateralized term loans - CMBS 400,051 405,702 3.3 4.1 5.1 % 5.1 % Collateralized term loans - FMCC 376,251 380,680 5.1 5.9 3.9 % 3.9 % Secured borrowings 93,669 107,731 13.8 14.4 9.9 % 9.9 % Preferred equity - Sun NG Resorts - mandatorily redeemable 35,249 35,277 3.0 3.8 6.0 % 6.0 % Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable 34,663 37,338 4.3 4.7 6.5 % 6.6 % Lines of credit 140,632 128,000 3.6 2.3 3.2 % 3.8 % Total debt $ 3,271,341 $ 3,124,303 9.8 9.0 4.3 % 4.5 % Collateralized Term Loans During the three months ended September 30, 2019 , the Company completed a $250.0 million ten-year term loan transaction which carries an interest rate of 2.925 percent . Concurrently, the Company repaid a $134.0 million term loan with an interest rate of 4.30 percent which was due to mature in May 2023. We recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $12.8 million as a result of the repayment transaction in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we completed a $265.0 million 25 -year term loan transaction which carries an interest rate of 4.17 percent . Concurrently, we repaid a $186.8 million term loan with an interest rate of 3.83 percent which was due to mature in January 2030. We recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.7 million as a result of the repayment transaction in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, we repaid a term loan of $10.2 million with an interest rate of 5.66 percent . The loan was due to mature on February 28, 2019. Concurrently, we entered into a $21.7 million collateralized term loan with a 4.10 percent fixed interest rate and 20 -year term. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we entered into a $228.0 million collateralized term loan with a 4.10 percent fixed rate and a 20 -year term. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we repaid one collateralized term loan of $30.5 million with an interest rate of 6.34 percent , releasing one encumbered community, which was due to mature March 1, 2019. We recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.9 million as a result of the repayment transaction. During the three months ended June 30, 2018 we repaid three collateralized term loans totaling $177.7 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.53 percent , releasing 11 encumbered communities. One loan was due to mature on August 1, 2018 and two loans were due to mature on May 1, 2023. We recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.5 million as a result of the repayment transaction. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repaid four collateralized term loans totaling $24.4 million with a weighted average interest rate of 6.36 percent , releasing three encumbered communities. The loans were due to mature on March 1, 2019. We recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million as a result of the repayment transactions. The collateralized term loans totaling $3.0 billion as of September 30, 2019 , are secured by 183 properties comprised of 71,920 sites representing approximately $3.2 billion of net book value. Secured Borrowing See Note 4 , “ Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets ,” for information regarding our collateralized receivables and secured borrowing transactions. Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts - mandatorily redeemable In June 2018, in connection with the investment in Sun NG Resorts, $35.3 million of mandatorily redeemable Preferred Equity (“Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts”) was purchased by unrelated third parties. The Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts carries a preferred rate of return of 6.0 percent per annum. The Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts has a seven year term and can be redeemed in the fourth quarter of 2022 at the holders’ option. The Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts as of September 30, 2019 was $35.2 million . Refer to Note 3 , “ Real Estate Acquisitions ,” Note 8 , “ Consolidated Variable Interest Entities ,” and Note 10 , “ Equity and Temporary Equity ” for additional information. Preferred OP Units - mandatorily redeemable Preferred OP units at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include $34.7 million of Aspen preferred OP units issued by the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2019 , these units are convertible indirectly into 406,974 shares of our common stock. Subject to certain limitations, at any time prior to January 1, 2024, the holder of each Aspen preferred OP unit at its option may convert such Aspen preferred OP unit into: (a) if the market price of our common stock is $68.00 per share or less, 0.397 common OP units; or (b) if the market price of our common stock is greater than $68.00 per share, the number of common OP units is determined by dividing (i) the sum of (A) $27.00 plus (B) 25 percent of the amount by which the market price of our common stock exceeds $68.00 per share, by (ii) the per share market price of our common stock. The current preferred distribution rate is 6.5 percent . On January 2, 2024, we are required to redeem all Aspen preferred OP units that have not been converted to common OP units. Preferred OP units also include $2.7 million of Series B-3 preferred OP units at December 31, 2018 , which are not convertible. In January 2019, we redeemed all remaining 26,750 Series B-3 preferred OP units. The weighted average redemption price per unit, which included accrued and unpaid distributions, of $100.153424 . In the aggregate, we paid $2.7 million to redeem these units. Lines of Credit In May 2019, we amended and restated our credit agreement (the “A&R Credit Agreement”) with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) and certain other lenders. Pursuant to the A&R Credit Agreement, we entered into a senior credit facility with Citibank and certain other lenders in the amount of $750.0 million , comprised of a $650.0 million revolving loan, with the ability to use up to $100.0 million for advances in Australian dollars, and a $100.0 million term loan (the “A&R Facility”). The Company has until March 17, 2020 to draw on the term loan. As of September 30, 2019 , the Company had not drawn any funds on the term loan. The A&R Credit Agreement has a four-year term ending May 21, 2023 , which can be extended for two additional six-month periods, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as defined in the credit agreement. The A&R Credit Agreement also provides for, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, additional commitments in an amount not to exceed $350.0 million . If additional borrowings are made pursuant to any such additional commitments, the aggregate borrowing limit under the A&R Facility may be increased up to $1.1 billion . The A&R Facility bears interest at a floating rate based on the Eurodollar rate or Bank Bill Swap Bid Rate (“BBSY Bid rate”) plus a margin that is determined based on our leverage ratio calculated in accordance with the A&R Credit Agreement, which margin can range from 1.20 percent to 2.10 percent for the revolving loan and 1.20 percent to 2.05 percent for the term loan. As of September 30, 2019 , the margin based on our leverage ratio was 1.2 percent on the revolving loan and 1.2 percent on the term loan. We had $137.0 million and zero of borrowings on the revolving loan and the term loans, respectively, as of September 30, 2019 . The A&R Facility provides us with the ability to issue letters of credit. Our issuance of letters of credit does not increase our borrowings outstanding under our line of credit, but does reduce the borrowing amount available. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , approximately $3.4 million and $3.9 million of availability was used to back standby letters of credit. We have a $12.0 million manufactured home floor plan facility renewable indefinitely until our lender provides us at least a twelve month notice of their intent to terminate the agreement. The interest rate is 100 basis points over the greater of the prime rate as quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of each month or 6.0 percent . At September 30, 2019 , the effective interest rate was 7.0 percent . The outstanding balance was $3.6 million as of September 30, 2019 and zero as of December 31, 2018 . Covenants Pursuant to the terms of the A&R Facility, we are subject to various financial and other covenants. The most restrictive of our debt agreements place limitations on secured borrowings and contain minimum fixed charge coverage, leverage, distribution, and net worth requirements. At September 30, 2019 , we were in compliance with all covenants. In addition, certain of our subsidiary borrowers own properties that secure loans. These subsidiaries are consolidated within our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, however, each of these subsidiaries’ assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of the Company, any of its other subsidiaries or any other person or entity. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - Nonconsolidated Affiliate Indebtedness We have a 40 percent investment in GTSC, a nonconsolidated affiliate. During September 2019, GTSC entered into a warehouse line of credit with a maximum loan amount of $125.0 million . As of September 30, 2019, the aggregate carrying amount of debt, including both our and our partners’ share, incurred by GTSC was approximately $110.3 million (of which our proportionate share is approximately $44.1 million ). The debt bears interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR plus 1.65 percent per annum and matures on September 15, 2023.

Equity and Temporary Equity

Equity and Temporary Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
Equity and Temporary Equity	Public Equity Offerings In May 2019, we closed an underwritten registered public offering of 3,737,500 shares of common stock. Proceeds from the offering were $452.1 million after deducting expenses related to the offering. We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan under our senior credit facility. At the Market Offering Sales Agreement In July 2017, we entered into a new at the market offering sales agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with certain sales agents (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), whereby we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $450.0 million , from time to time through the Sales Agents. The Sales Agents are entitled to compensation in an agreed amount not to exceed 2.0 percent of the gross price per share for any shares sold from time to time under the Sales Agreement. Through September 30, 2019 , we have sold shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $163.8 million under the Sales Agreement. There were no issuances of common stock under the Sales Agreement during 2019. Issuance of Series D Preferred OP Units - Temporary Equity In February 2019, we issued 488,958 Series D Preferred OP Units in connection with the acquisition of Country Village Estates. The Series D preferred OP units have a stated issuance price of $100.00 per OP Unit and carry a preferred return of 3.75 percent until the second anniversary of the issuance date. Commencing with the second anniversary of the issuance date, the Series D Preferred OP Units carry a preferred return of 4.0 percent . Commencing with the first anniversary of the issuance date, each Series D Preferred OP Unit can be exchanged for 0.8 shares of SUI stock at the holder’s option. The holders may require redemption in cash after the fifth anniversary of the Series D issuance date or upon the holder’s death. Refer to Note 3 , “ Real Estate Acquisitions ” for additional information. Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC - Temporary Equity In June 2018, in connection with the investment in Sun NG Resorts, unrelated third parties purchased 6.5 million of Series B preferred equity interests and $15.4 million of common equity interest in Sun NG Resorts (herein jointly referred to as “Equity Interest - NG Sun LLC”). The Series B preferred equity interests carry a preferred return at a rate that, at any time, is equal to the interest rate on Sun NG Resorts’ indebtedness at such time. The current rate of return is 5.5 percent . The Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC do not have a fixed maturity date and can be redeemed in the fourth quarter of 2022 at the holders’ option. Sun NG LLC, our subsidiary, has the right during certain periods each year, with or without cause, or for cause at any time, to elect to buy NG Sun LLC’s interest. During a limited period in 2022, NG Sun LLC has the right to put its interest to Sun NG LLC. If either party exercises their option, the property management agreement will be terminated and the Company is required to purchase the remaining interests of NG Sun LLC and the property management agreement at fair value. Refer to Note 3 , “ Real Estate Acquisitions ,” Note 8 , “ Consolidated Variable Interest Entities ,” and Note 9 , “ Debt and Lines of Credit ” for additional information. Equity Interests - NG Sun Whitewater RV LLC - Temporary Equity In August 2019, in connection with the investment in land at the property known as Whitewater, NG Sun Whitewater LLC purchased $2.4 million of common equity interest in Sun NG Whitewater RV LLC Resorts (referred to as “Equity Interests - NG Sun Whitewater RV LLC”). The Equity Interests - NG Sun Whitewater RV LLC do not have a fixed maturity date and can be redeemed anytime after the last day of the third full year that the RV park has been operated as a recreational vehicle park, or last day of the third full year that the RV park has been operated as a recreational vehicle park after the completion of the development of phase two (the “buy-sell trigger date”). Sun NG LLC, our subsidiary, has the right to terminate the agreement after the buy-sell trigger date. If either party exercises their option, the property management agreement will be terminated and Sun NG LLC is required to purchase the remaining interests of NG Sun Whitewater LLC and the property management agreement at fair value. Refer to Note 3 , “ Real Estate Acquisitions ,” and Note 8 , “ Consolidated Variable Interest Entities ,” for additional information. Conversions Subject to certain limitations, holders can convert certain series of stock and OP units to shares of our common stock at any time. Below is the activity of conversions during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 : Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Series Conversion Rate Units/Shares Converted Common Stock (1) Units/Shares Converted Common Stock (1) Common OP unit 1.0000 443,158 443,158 16,908 16,908 Series A-1 preferred OP unit 2.4390 15,732 38,363 13,100 31,948 Series A-4 preferred OP unit 0.4444 4,708 2,092 13,765 6,116 Series A-4 preferred stock 0.4444 11,288 5,016 22,576 10,033 Series C preferred OP unit 1.1100 4,014 4,455 1,919 2,130 (1) C alculation may yield minor differences due to rounding incorporated in the above numbers. Cash Distributions Cash Distributions for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were as follows: Cash Distributions Record Date Payment Date Distribution per Share Total Distribution (thousands) Common Stock, Common OP units and Restricted Stock 9/30/2019 10/15/2019 $ 0.75 $ 69,724 Series A-4 Preferred Stock 9/14/2019 9/30/2019 $ 0.40625 $ 427 Repurchase Program In November 2004, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock. We have 400,000 common shares remaining in the repurchase program as of September 30, 2019 . No common shares were repurchased during nine months ended September 30, 2019 or 2018 . There is no expiration date specified for the buyback program.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation As of September 30, 2019 , we had two share-based compensation plans: the Sun Communities, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“2015 Equity Incentive Plan”) and the First Amended and Restated 2004 Non-Employee Director Option Plan (“2004 Non-Employee Director Option Plan”). We believe granting equity awards will provide certain executives, key employees and directors additional incentives to promote our financial success, and promote employee and director retention by providing an opportunity to acquire or increase the direct proprietary interest of those individuals in our operations and future. The following table shows details on grants of equity awards during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 : Grant Period Type Plan Shares Granted Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Vesting Type Vesting Anniversary Percentage 2019 Executive Officers 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 44,000 $ 115.39 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years 2019 Executive Officers 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 66,000 (2) $ 115.39 (2) Market Condition 3rd 100.0 % 2019 Directors 2004 Non-Employee Director Option Plan 18,000 $ 113.68 (1) Time Based 3rd 100.0 % 2019 Key Employees 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 55,770 $ 120.01 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years 2019 Key Employees 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 3,500 $ 138.07 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years (1) The fair value of the grants were determined by using the average closing price of our common stock on the dates the shares were issued. (2) Share-based compensation for restricted stock awards with market conditions is measured based on an estimate of shares expected to vest. We estimate the fair value of share-based compensation for restricted stock with market conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation. At the grant date our common stock price was $115.39 . Based on the Monte Carlo simulation we expect 75.1% of the 66,000 shares to vest. Options During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , 1,500 shares of common stock were issued in connection with the exercise of stock options with net proceeds of less than $0.1 million . There were no stock option exercises during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . Vesting The vesting requirements for 223,781 restricted shares granted to our executives, directors and employees were satisfied during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 .

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting	We group our operating segments into reportable segments that provide similar products and services. Each operating segment has discrete financial information evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker in evaluating and assessing performance. We have two reportable segments: (i) Real Property Operations and (ii) Home Sales and Rentals. The Real Property Operations segment owns, operates, has an interest in a portfolio, and develops MH communities and RV communities, and is in the business of acquiring, operating, and expanding MH and RV communities. The Home Sales and Rentals segment offers manufactured home sales and leasing services to tenants and prospective tenants of our communities. Transactions between our segments are eliminated in consolidation. Transient RV revenue is included in the Real Property Operations segment revenues and is expected to approximate $ 131.9 million annually. Transient RV revenue was recognized 19.9 percent in the first quarter, 23.2 percent in the second quarter, 41.1 percent in the third quarter and is expected to be 15.8 percent in the fourth quarter. Transient revenue was $ 106.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 . We recognized 20.7 percent in the first quarter, 20.3 percent in the second quarter, 42.6 percent in the third quarter, and 16.4 percent in the fourth quarter. A presentation of segment financial information is summarized as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues $ 288,422 $ 64,249 $ 352,671 $ 257,215 $ 59,720 $ 316,935 Operating expenses / Cost of sales 113,201 42,326 155,527 101,550 39,928 141,478 Net operating income / Gross profit 175,221 21,923 197,144 155,665 19,792 175,457 Adjustments to arrive at net income / (loss) Interest and other revenues, net 9,772 — 9,772 6,478 — 6,478 Home selling expenses — (3,988 ) (3,988 ) — (4,043 ) (4,043 ) General and administrative expenses (19,966 ) (3,009 ) (22,975 ) (16,919 ) (2,844 ) (19,763 ) Catastrophic weather related charges, net (341 ) — (341 ) (173 ) — (173 ) Depreciation and amortization (56,568 ) (19,964 ) (76,532 ) (54,305 ) (17,677 ) (71,982 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (12,755 ) — (12,755 ) (528 ) — (528 ) Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity (1,216 ) — (1,216 ) (1,142 ) — (1,142 ) Interest expense (32,214 ) (5 ) (32,219 ) (33,927 ) (5 ) (33,932 ) Remeasurement of marketable securities 12,661 — 12,661 — — — Other income / (expense), net (4,401 ) (7 ) (4,408 ) 1,230 1 1,231 Income from nonconsolidated affiliates — 77 77 — 126 126 Current tax expense (328 ) (92 ) (420 ) (135 ) (78 ) (213 ) Deferred tax benefit / (expense) (349 ) — (349 ) 199 — 199 Net income / (loss) 69,516 (5,065 ) 64,451 56,443 (4,728 ) 51,715 Less: Preferred return to preferred OP units / equity (1,599 ) — (1,599 ) (1,152 ) — (1,152 ) Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (5,644 ) 222 (5,422 ) (4,299 ) 228 (4,071 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. 62,273 (4,843 ) 57,430 50,992 (4,500 ) 46,492 Less: Preferred stock distribution (428 ) — (428 ) (432 ) — (432 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 61,845 $ (4,843 ) $ 57,002 $ 50,560 $ (4,500 ) $ 46,060 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues $ 757,047 $ 179,492 $ 936,539 $ 671,695 $ 162,205 $ 833,900 Operating expenses / Cost of sales 287,635 115,917 403,552 253,407 107,973 361,380 Net operating income / Gross profit 469,412 63,575 532,987 418,288 54,232 472,520 Adjustments to arrive at net income / (loss) Interest and other revenues, net 25,679 — 25,679 18,922 — 18,922 Home selling expenses — (10,938 ) (10,938 ) — (11,319 ) (11,319 ) General and administrative expenses (59,922 ) (8,637 ) (68,559 ) (52,706 ) (8,266 ) (60,972 ) Catastrophic weather related charges, net (1,294 ) (8 ) (1,302 ) 2,206 (219 ) 1,987 Depreciation and amortization (171,867 ) (57,374 ) (229,241 ) (155,624 ) (50,568 ) (206,192 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (13,478 ) — (13,478 ) (1,255 ) — (1,255 ) Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity (3,491 ) — (3,491 ) (2,551 ) — (2,551 ) Interest expense (99,880 ) (14 ) (99,894 ) (98,306 ) (15 ) (98,321 ) Remeasurement of marketable securities 16,548 — 16,548 — — — Other income / (expense), net (1,480 ) (9 ) (1,489 ) (3,215 ) 1 (3,214 ) Income from nonconsolidated affiliates — 814 814 — 59 59 Current tax expense (629 ) (277 ) (906 ) (366 ) (246 ) (612 ) Deferred tax benefit / (expense) (36 ) — (36 ) 434 — 434 Net income / (loss) 159,562 (12,868 ) 146,694 125,827 (16,341 ) 109,486 Less: Preferred return to preferred OP units / equity (4,640 ) — (4,640 ) (3,335 ) — (3,335 ) Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (9,643 ) 595 (9,048 ) (9,202 ) 810 (8,392 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. 145,279 (12,273 ) 133,006 113,290 (15,531 ) 97,759 Less: Preferred stock distribution (1,288 ) — (1,288 ) (1,305 ) — (1,305 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 143,991 $ (12,273 ) $ 131,718 $ 111,985 $ (15,531 ) $ 96,454 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Identifiable assets Investment property, net $ 6,184,173 $ 573,266 $ 6,757,439 $ 5,586,444 $ 531,872 $ 6,118,316 Cash and cash equivalents (12,506 ) 38,704 26,198 24,343 25,968 50,311 Marketable securities 64,818 — 64,818 49,037 — 49,037 Inventory of manufactured homes 17 55,217 55,234 — 49,199 49,199 Notes and other receivables, net 158,136 16,798 174,934 145,673 14,404 160,077 Collateralized receivables, net 93,054 — 93,054 106,924 — 106,924 Other assets, net 181,895 44,282 226,177 140,027 36,135 176,162 Total assets $ 6,669,587 $ 728,267 $ 7,397,854 $ 6,052,448 $ 657,578 $ 6,710,026

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) pursuant to Section 856(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”). In order for us to qualify as a REIT, at least 95 percent of our gross income in any year must be derived from qualifying sources. In addition, a REIT must distribute annually at least 90 percent of its REIT taxable income (calculated without any deduction for dividends paid and excluding capital gain) to its stockholders and meet other tests. Qualification as a REIT involves the satisfaction of numerous requirements (on an annual and quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex Code provisions for which there are limited judicial or administrative interpretations, and involves the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. In addition, frequent changes occur in the area of REIT taxation which requires us to continually monitor our tax status. We analyzed the various REIT tests and confirmed that we continued to qualify as a REIT for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 . As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to United States (“U.S.”) federal income taxes at the corporate level on the ordinary taxable income we distribute to our stockholders as dividends. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, our taxable income could be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates. Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may be subject to certain state and local income taxes as well as U.S. federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income. In addition, taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through taxable REIT subsidiaries is subject to federal, state, and local income taxes. The Company is also subject to local income taxes in Canada as a result of the acquisition in 2016 of certain properties located in Canada. We do not provide for withholding taxes on our undistributed earnings from our Canadian subsidiaries as they are reinvested and will continue to be reinvested indefinitely outside of the U.S. However, we are subject to Australian withholding taxes on distributions from our investment in Ingenia Communities Group. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the bases of such assets and liabilities as measured by tax laws. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance to the amount where realization is more likely than not assured after considering all available evidence. Our temporary differences primarily relate to net operating loss carryforwards, depreciation and basis differences between tax and U.S. GAAP on our Canadian investments. Our deferred tax assets that have a full valuation allowance relate to our taxable REIT subsidiaries business. Net deferred tax liabilities of $20.7 million and $20.2 million for Canadian entities have been recorded in relation to corporate entities and included in “Other liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. There are no U.S. federal deferred tax assets or liabilities included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 . We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 . We do not expect significant changes in tax positions that would result in unrecognized tax benefits within one year of September 30, 2019 . For the three months ended September 30, 2019 we recorded a current tax expense for federal, state, Canadian income taxes and Australian withholding taxes of $0.4 million . For the three months ended September 30, 2018 we recorded a current tax expense for federal, state and Canadian income taxes of $0.2 million . For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , we recorded a current tax expense of $0.9 million and $0.6 million , respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 , we recorded a deferred tax expense of $0.3 million . For the three months ended September 30, 2018 , we recorded a deferred tax benefit of $0.2 million . For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , we recorded a deferred tax benefit of $0.0 million and $0.4 million , respectively.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share We have outstanding stock options, unvested restricted common shares, and Series A-4 Preferred Stock, and our Operating Partnership has: outstanding common OP units; Series A-1 preferred OP units; Series A-3 preferred OP units; Series A-4 preferred OP units; Series C preferred OP units; Series D preferred OP units; and Aspen preferred OP Units, which, if converted or exercised, may impact dilution. Computations of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Numerator Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 57,002 $ 46,060 $ 131,718 $ 96,454 Less allocation to restricted stock awards (437 ) (396 ) (1,020 ) (830 ) Basic earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards 56,565 45,664 130,698 95,624 Add allocation to restricted stock awards 437 396 1,020 — Diluted earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards $ 57,002 $ 46,060 $ 131,718 $ 95,624 Denominator Weighted average common shares outstanding 89,847 81,599 87,499 80,022 Add: dilutive stock options 1 2 1 2 Add: dilutive restricted stock 484 480 431 — Diluted weighted average common shares and securities 90,332 82,081 87,931 80,024 Earnings per share available to common stockholders after allocation Basic 0.63 0.56 1.49 1.19 Diluted 0.63 0.56 1.50 1.19 We have excluded certain convertible securities from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the inclusion of those securities would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented. The following table presents the outstanding securities that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands): As of September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Series A-4 preferred stock 1,052 1,063 Common OP units 2,282 2,729 A-1 preferred OP units 316 332 A-3 preferred OP units 40 40 A-4 preferred OP units 406 410 Series C preferred OP units 310 314 Series D preferred OP units 489 — Aspen preferred OP units 1,284 1,284 Total securities 6,179 6,172

Fair Value of Financial Instrum

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, and debt. ASC Topic 820 “ Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, ” requires disclosure regarding determination of fair value for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy under which these assets and liabilities must be grouped, based on significant levels of observable or unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumption. This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy: Level 1—Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. We utilize fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. The following methods and assumptions were used in order to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value: Marketable Securities In November 2018, we purchased marketable securities on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) for total consideration of $54.0 million US. The marketable securities held by us and accounted for under the ASC 321 “ Investment Equity Securities ” are measured at fair value. Any change in fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Remeasurement of marketable securities in accordance with ASU 2016-01 “ Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities .” The fair value is measured by the quoted unadjusted share price of which is readily available in active markets (Level 1). Installment Notes Receivable on Manufactured Homes The net carrying value of the installment notes receivable on manufactured homes estimates the fair value as the interest rates in the portfolio are comparable to current prevailing market rates (Level 2). Refer to Note 5 , “ Notes and Other Receivables .” Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit The fair value of long-term debt (excluding the secured borrowing) is based on the estimates of management and on rates currently quoted, rates currently prevailing for comparable loans, and instruments of comparable maturities (Level 2). Refer to Note 9 , “ Debt and Lines of Credit .” Collateralized Receivables and Secured Borrowings The fair value of these financial instruments offset each other as our collateralized receivables represent a transfer of financial assets and the cash proceeds received from these transactions have been classified as a secured borrowing on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net carrying value of the collateralized receivables estimates the fair value as the interest rates in the portfolio are comparable to current prevailing market rates (Level 2). Refer to Note 4 , “ Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets .” Financial Liabilities We estimate the fair value of our contingent consideration liability based on discounting of future cash flows using market interest rates and adjusting for non-performance risk over the remaining term of the liability (Level 2). Other Financial Instruments The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, and accounts payable approximate their fair market values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The table below sets forth our financial assets and liabilities that required disclosure of fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019 . The table presents the carrying values and fair values of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , that were measured using the valuation techniques described above (in thousands). The table excludes other financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable as the carrying values associated with these instruments approximate fair value since their maturities are less than one year. September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Financial assets Carrying Value Fair Carrying Value Fair Marketable securities $ 64,818 $ 64,818 $ 49,037 $ 49,037 Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net 100,431 100,431 112,798 112,798 Collateralized receivables, net 93,054 93,054 106,924 106,924 Notes receivable from third party 30,186 30,186 — — Total $ 288,489 $ 288,489 $ 268,759 $ 268,759 Financial liabilities Debt (excluding secured borrowings) $ 3,037,040 $ 3,099,392 $ 2,888,572 $ 2,757,649 Secured borrowings 93,669 93,669 107,731 107,731 Lines of credit 140,632 140,632 128,000 128,000 Other liabilities (contingent consideration) 6,052 6,052 4,640 4,640 Total $ 3,277,393 $ 3,339,745 $ 3,128,943 $ 2,998,020

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC 2016-02 codified in ASC Topic 842, Leases, which amends the guidance in former ASC Topic 840, Leases. On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 2016-02. The new standard increases transparency and comparability most significantly by requiring the recognition by lessees of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. As amended by ASU 2018-11, comparative reporting periods are presented in accordance with Topic 840, while periods subsequent to the effective date are presented in accordance with Topic 842. The Company elected the package of practical expedients, which permits the Company not to reassess expired or existing contracts containing a lease, the lease classification for expired or existing contracts, initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company elected not to allocate lease obligation between lease and non-lease components of our agreements for both leases where we are a lessor and leases where we are a lessee. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient, which permits the company to use hindsight in determining the lease terms and impairment implications. The Company did not elect to use a portfolio approach in the valuation of ROU assets and corresponding liabilities. Some ROU assets include an extension option, which is included in the ROU assets and liabilities only if we are reasonably certain to exercise. Lessor Accounting Our income from real property and rental home revenue streams are derived from rental agreements where we are the lessor. Our recognition of rental revenue remains mainly consistent with previous guidance, apart from the narrower definition of initial direct costs that can be capitalized. ASC 842 limits the definition of initial direct costs to only the incremental costs of signing a lease. Internal sales employees’ compensation, payroll-related fringe benefits, certain legal fees rendered prior to the execution of a lease, negotiation costs, advertising and other origination effort costs no longer meet the definition of initial direct costs under the new standard, and will be accounted for as general and administrative expense in our consolidated statements of operations. ASC 842 permits the capitalization of direct commission costs. The application of ASC 842 resulted in an immaterial impact on the statement of consolidated operations. Our leases with customers are classified as operating leases. Lease income from tenants is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the relevant lease agreement and is included within income from real property, rental home revenue and ancillary revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Revenue is not recognized when collection is not reasonably assured. When collectability is not reasonably assured, the resident is placed on non-accrual status and revenue is recognized when cash payments are received. Lessee Accounting We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Our operating lease agreements are primarily for executive office spaces, ground leases at certain communities, and certain equipment leases. The ROU asset and ROU liabilities are included within Other assets, net and Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For operating leases with a term greater than one year, the company recognizes the ROU assets and liabilities related to the lease payments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The lease liabilities are initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the lease commencement date. The ROU assets represent our right to use the underlying assets for the term of the lease and the lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising for the agreements. The ROU asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received. The ROU asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus unamortized initial direct costs, plus (minus) any prepaid (accrued) lease payments, less the unamortized balance of lease incentives received. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The ROU asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses. As of September 30, 2019 , we have not encountered any impairment losses. Variable lease payments, except for the ones that depend on index or rate, are excluded from the calculation of the ROU assets and lease liabilities and are recognized as variable lease expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period in which they are incurred. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Many of our lessee agreements include options to extend the lease, which we do not include in our minimum lease terms unless they are reasonably certain to be exercised. The lease liability costs are amortized over the straight-line method over the term of the lease. Operating leases with a term of less than one year are recognized as a lease expense over the term of the lease, with no asset or liability recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases where we are the lessee are included in Other assets, net and Other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The lease liabilities are initially measured in the same manner as operating leases and are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The ROU asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received. For finance leases the ROU asset is subsequently amortized using the straight-line method from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of its useful life or the end of the lease term unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to us, or we are reasonably certain to exercise an option to purchase the underlying asset. In those cases, the ROU asset is amortized over the useful life of the underlying asset. Amortization of the ROU asset is recognized and presented separately from interest expense on the lease liability. ROU assets are periodically reduced by impairment losses. As of September 30, 2019 , we have not encountered any impairment losses. Refer to Note 18 , “ Leases ” for information regarding leasing activities. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09 “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ” Refer to Note 2 , “ Revenue ” for information regarding our adoption of this guidance. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2017-01 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” and now capitalize direct acquisition related costs as part of the purchase price of asset acquisitions. Under previous guidance, substantially all of our property acquisitions were accounted for as business combinations with identifiable assets and liabilities measured at fair value, and acquisition related costs expensed as incurred. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-18 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” This update required inclusion of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Our restricted cash consists of amounts primarily held in deposit for tax, insurance and repair escrows held by lenders in accordance with certain debt agreements. Restricted cash is included as a component of Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in restricted cash are reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as operating, investing or financing activities based on the nature of the underlying activity. The following table reconciles our beginning-of-period and end-of-period balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for the periods shown (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 26,198 $ 50,311 $ 113,556 $ 10,127 Restricted cash 15,528 11,951 15,538 13,382 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 41,726 $ 62,262 $ 129,094 $ 23,509 Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments . ” This update replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are in the process of evaluating the provisions of ASU 2016-13 and have taken steps to prepare for the implementation, such as finalizing the population in scope, gathering and analyzing relevant data, and evaluating the most appropriate valuation methodology under the issued guidance. As of September 30, 2019, the Company is still evaluating the impacts of ASU 2016-13 on its consolidated financial statements.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Legal Proceedings We are involved in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. All such proceedings, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

Leases

Leases	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases Lessee accounting Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 where we are the lessee include: Maturity of lease liabilities (in thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019) $ 712 $ 97 $ 809 2020 2,397 120 2,517 2021 2,446 120 2,566 2022 2,483 120 2,603 2023 2,572 120 2,692 Thereafter 35,185 4,060 39,245 Total lease payments $ 45,795 $ 4,637 $ 50,432 Less: Imputed interest (21,121 ) (485 ) (21,606 ) Present value of lease liabilities $ 24,674 $ 4,152 $ 28,826 ROU assets and lease liabilities for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease asset and liabilities (in thousands) Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 Description Financial Statement Classification December 31, 2018 Lease assets Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 4,152 Capital lease asset Land $ 4,098 Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 24,197 n/a Right-of-use asset obtained relative to below market operating lease Other asset, net $ 28,554 Below market Lease intangible asset Other Asset, net $ 29,118 Lease liabilities Finance lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 4,152 Capital lease liabilities Other Liabilities $ 4,098 Operating lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 24,674 n/a Lease expense for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease expense (in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense Amortization of right-of-use assets Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 77 Operating lease cost General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 794 2,598 Variable lease cost Property operating and maintenance 468 1,214 Total lease expense $ 1,306 $ 3,944 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 Capital lease expense Amortization of lease Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 78 Operating lease expense General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 845 2,468 Below market ground lease amortization expense Property operating and maintenance 188 633 Total lease expense $ 1,077 $ 3,234 Lease term, discount rates and additional information for finance and operating leases are as follows: Lease term and discount rate September 30, 2019 Weighted-average remaining lease terms (years) Finance lease 4.75 Operating lease 26.90 Weighted-average discount rate Finance lease 2.50 % Operating lease 4.03 % Other Information (in thousands) Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities Operating Cash Flow from Operating leases $ 1,504 $ 2,556 Financing Cash Flow from Finance leases 23 23 Total Cash paid on lease liabilities $ 1,527 $ 2,579 As of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 , we have an additional executive office space operating lease for $2.9 million which will commence in January 2020 with a lease term of seven years . Related Party Leases: Lease of Executive Offices. Gary A. Shiffman, together with certain of his family members, indirectly owns an equity interest of approximately 28.1 percent in American Center LLC, the entity from which we lease office space for our principal executive offices. Each of Brian M. Hermelin, Ronald A. Klein and Arthur A. Weiss indirectly owns a less than one percent interest in American Center LLC. Mr. Shiffman is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Each of Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss is a director of the Company. Under this agreement, we lease approximately 103,100 rentable square feet of permanent space. The initial term of the lease is until October 31, 2026, and the average gross base rent is $18.55 per square foot until October 31, 2019 with graduated rental increases thereafter. Each of Mr. Shiffman, Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss may have a conflict of interest with respect to his obligations as our officer and/or director and his ownership interest in American Center LLC. Lessor Accounting We are not the lessor for any finance leases as of September 30, 2019 . Over 95 percent of our operating leases where we are the lessor are either month to month or for a time period not to exceed one year. As of the reporting date, future minimum lease payments would not exceed twelve months. Similarly, over 95 percent of our investment property, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and related depreciation amounts relate to assets whereby we are the lessor under an operating lease.
Leases	Lessee accounting Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 where we are the lessee include: Maturity of lease liabilities (in thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019) $ 712 $ 97 $ 809 2020 2,397 120 2,517 2021 2,446 120 2,566 2022 2,483 120 2,603 2023 2,572 120 2,692 Thereafter 35,185 4,060 39,245 Total lease payments $ 45,795 $ 4,637 $ 50,432 Less: Imputed interest (21,121 ) (485 ) (21,606 ) Present value of lease liabilities $ 24,674 $ 4,152 $ 28,826 ROU assets and lease liabilities for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease asset and liabilities (in thousands) Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 Description Financial Statement Classification December 31, 2018 Lease assets Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 4,152 Capital lease asset Land $ 4,098 Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 24,197 n/a Right-of-use asset obtained relative to below market operating lease Other asset, net $ 28,554 Below market Lease intangible asset Other Asset, net $ 29,118 Lease liabilities Finance lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 4,152 Capital lease liabilities Other Liabilities $ 4,098 Operating lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 24,674 n/a Lease expense for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease expense (in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense Amortization of right-of-use assets Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 77 Operating lease cost General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 794 2,598 Variable lease cost Property operating and maintenance 468 1,214 Total lease expense $ 1,306 $ 3,944 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 Capital lease expense Amortization of lease Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 78 Operating lease expense General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 845 2,468 Below market ground lease amortization expense Property operating and maintenance 188 633 Total lease expense $ 1,077 $ 3,234 Lease term, discount rates and additional information for finance and operating leases are as follows: Lease term and discount rate September 30, 2019 Weighted-average remaining lease terms (years) Finance lease 4.75 Operating lease 26.90 Weighted-average discount rate Finance lease 2.50 % Operating lease 4.03 % Other Information (in thousands) Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities Operating Cash Flow from Operating leases $ 1,504 $ 2,556 Financing Cash Flow from Finance leases 23 23 Total Cash paid on lease liabilities $ 1,527 $ 2,579 As of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 , we have an additional executive office space operating lease for $2.9 million which will commence in January 2020 with a lease term of seven years . Related Party Leases: Lease of Executive Offices. Gary A. Shiffman, together with certain of his family members, indirectly owns an equity interest of approximately 28.1 percent in American Center LLC, the entity from which we lease office space for our principal executive offices. Each of Brian M. Hermelin, Ronald A. Klein and Arthur A. Weiss indirectly owns a less than one percent interest in American Center LLC. Mr. Shiffman is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Each of Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss is a director of the Company. Under this agreement, we lease approximately 103,100 rentable square feet of permanent space. The initial term of the lease is until October 31, 2026, and the average gross base rent is $18.55 per square foot until October 31, 2019 with graduated rental increases thereafter. Each of Mr. Shiffman, Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss may have a conflict of interest with respect to his obligations as our officer and/or director and his ownership interest in American Center LLC. Lessor Accounting We are not the lessor for any finance leases as of September 30, 2019 . Over 95 percent of our operating leases where we are the lessor are either month to month or for a time period not to exceed one year. As of the reporting date, future minimum lease payments would not exceed twelve months. Similarly, over 95 percent of our investment property, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and related depreciation amounts relate to assets whereby we are the lessor under an operating lease.
Leases	Lessee accounting Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 where we are the lessee include: Maturity of lease liabilities (in thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019) $ 712 $ 97 $ 809 2020 2,397 120 2,517 2021 2,446 120 2,566 2022 2,483 120 2,603 2023 2,572 120 2,692 Thereafter 35,185 4,060 39,245 Total lease payments $ 45,795 $ 4,637 $ 50,432 Less: Imputed interest (21,121 ) (485 ) (21,606 ) Present value of lease liabilities $ 24,674 $ 4,152 $ 28,826 ROU assets and lease liabilities for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease asset and liabilities (in thousands) Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 Description Financial Statement Classification December 31, 2018 Lease assets Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 4,152 Capital lease asset Land $ 4,098 Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 24,197 n/a Right-of-use asset obtained relative to below market operating lease Other asset, net $ 28,554 Below market Lease intangible asset Other Asset, net $ 29,118 Lease liabilities Finance lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 4,152 Capital lease liabilities Other Liabilities $ 4,098 Operating lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 24,674 n/a Lease expense for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease expense (in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense Amortization of right-of-use assets Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 77 Operating lease cost General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 794 2,598 Variable lease cost Property operating and maintenance 468 1,214 Total lease expense $ 1,306 $ 3,944 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 Capital lease expense Amortization of lease Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 78 Operating lease expense General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 845 2,468 Below market ground lease amortization expense Property operating and maintenance 188 633 Total lease expense $ 1,077 $ 3,234 Lease term, discount rates and additional information for finance and operating leases are as follows: Lease term and discount rate September 30, 2019 Weighted-average remaining lease terms (years) Finance lease 4.75 Operating lease 26.90 Weighted-average discount rate Finance lease 2.50 % Operating lease 4.03 % Other Information (in thousands) Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities Operating Cash Flow from Operating leases $ 1,504 $ 2,556 Financing Cash Flow from Finance leases 23 23 Total Cash paid on lease liabilities $ 1,527 $ 2,579 As of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 , we have an additional executive office space operating lease for $2.9 million which will commence in January 2020 with a lease term of seven years . Related Party Leases: Lease of Executive Offices. Gary A. Shiffman, together with certain of his family members, indirectly owns an equity interest of approximately 28.1 percent in American Center LLC, the entity from which we lease office space for our principal executive offices. Each of Brian M. Hermelin, Ronald A. Klein and Arthur A. Weiss indirectly owns a less than one percent interest in American Center LLC. Mr. Shiffman is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Each of Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss is a director of the Company. Under this agreement, we lease approximately 103,100 rentable square feet of permanent space. The initial term of the lease is until October 31, 2026, and the average gross base rent is $18.55 per square foot until October 31, 2019 with graduated rental increases thereafter. Each of Mr. Shiffman, Mr. Hermelin, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weiss may have a conflict of interest with respect to his obligations as our officer and/or director and his ownership interest in American Center LLC. Lessor Accounting We are not the lessor for any finance leases as of September 30, 2019 . Over 95 percent of our operating leases where we are the lessor are either month to month or for a time period not to exceed one year. As of the reporting date, future minimum lease payments would not exceed twelve months. Similarly, over 95 percent of our investment property, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and related depreciation amounts relate to assets whereby we are the lessor under an operating lease.

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	We expect to acquire the Jensen Portfolio no later than October 31, 2019. However, the closing is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including obtaining certain third party consents. If these conditions are not satisfied or waived, or if the merger agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, then the acquisition will not be consummated. Refer to Note 3, “Real Estate Acquisitions” for additional information regarding this transaction. The Company intends to convert 1,051,501 shares of Series A-4 preferred stock and 405,656 Series A-4 preferred OP units issued by the Operating Partnership into its common stock and common OP units. Each share of Series A-4 preferred stock is convertible into approximately 0.4444 shares of common stock and each Series A-4 preferred OP units is convertible into approximately 0.4444 common OP units. The Company has the right under its charter and the Operating Partnership’s partnership agreement to convert these securities, if at any time after November 26, 2019, the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average price of a share of its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is equal to or greater than $64.97 for at least 20 trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days (the “Pricing Target”). On October 17, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the conversion of all of the Series A-4 preferred stock and Series A-4 preferred OP units into common stock and common OP units, respectively, provided that the Pricing Target is satisfied on November 27, 2019. If the Pricing Target is satisfied, the conversion is expected to occur on December 13, 2019. We have evaluated our Consolidated Financial Statements for subsequent events through the date that this Form 10-Q was issued.

Revenue (Tables)

Revenue (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following tables details our revenue by major source (in thousands): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues Income from real property $ 256,423 $ — $ 256,423 $ 229,607 $ — $ 229,607 Revenue from home sales — 49,805 49,805 — 46,131 46,131 Rental home revenue — 14,444 14,444 — 13,589 13,589 Ancillary revenue 31,999 — 31,999 27,608 — 27,608 Interest income 4,770 — 4,770 5,256 — 5,256 Brokerage commissions and other revenues, net 5,002 — 5,002 1,222 — 1,222 Total Revenues $ 298,194 $ 64,249 $ 362,443 $ 263,693 $ 59,720 $ 323,413 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues Income from real property $ 699,301 $ — $ 699,301 $ 625,488 $ — $ 625,488 Revenue from home sales — 136,665 136,665 — 122,248 122,248 Rental home revenue — 42,827 42,827 — 39,957 39,957 Ancillary revenue 57,746 — 57,746 46,207 — 46,207 Interest income 14,489 — 14,489 15,849 — 15,849 Brokerage commissions and other revenues, net 11,190 — 11,190 3,073 — 3,073 Total Revenues $ 782,726 $ 179,492 $ 962,218 $ 690,617 $ 162,205 $ 852,822

Real Estate Acquisitions (Table

Real Estate Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition	September 30, 2019 , we acquired the following communities: Community Name Type Sites Development Sites State Month Acquired Glen Ellis RV 244 40 NH September Leisure Point Resort (1) MH / RV 502 — DE September Reunion Lake RV 202 69 LA July River Plantation RV 309 — TN May Massey’s Landing RV RV 291 — DE February Shelby Properties (2) MH 1,308 — MI February Buena Vista MH 400 — AZ February Country Village Estates (3) MH 518 — OR January Hid’n Pines RV RV 321 — ME January Hacienda del Rio MH (Age-Restricted) 730 — FL January Total 4,825 109 (1) Contains 201 MH sites and 301 RV sites. (2) Contains two MH communities. (3) In conjunction with the acquisition, we issued Series D Preferred Operating Partnership (“OP”) Units. As of September 30, 2019 , 488,958 Series D Preferred OP Units were outstanding. In 2018 we acquired the following communities: Community Name Type Sites Development Sites State Month Acquired Leaf Verde RV Resort RV 376 — AZ October Archview RV 114 50 UT August Petoskey KOA RV 210 — MI August The Sands RV and Golf Resort RV (Age Restricted) 507 — CA July Sun NG RV Resorts LLC (1)(2) RV 2,700 940 Various June Silver Creek RV 264 176 MI June Highway West (1) RV 536 — UT & OR June Compass RV RV 175 — FL May Total 4,882 1,166 (1) Highway West and Sun NG RV Resorts LLC are comprised of 4 RV and 10 RV resorts, respectively. (2) Refer to Note 8, “Consolidated Variable Interest Entities,” Note 9, “Debt and Lines of Credit,” and Note 10, “Equity and Temporary Equity” in our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. In 2018 , we acquired the following land for expansion / development: Name Location Type Expansion / Development Sites Cost (millions) Month Acquired Ocean West McKinleyville, CA MH 26 $ 0.2 December Water Oak Country Club Estates Lady Lake, FL MH 296 1.9 November Oak Crest Austin, TX MH 220 4.2 October Pecan Park Jacksonville, FL RV 158 1.3 September Smith Creek Crossing Granby, CO MH 310 0.9 September Apple Carr Egelston, MI MH 121 0.2 May River Run Ranch Granby, CO MH / RV 1,144 5.3 May Total 2,275 $ 14.0
Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation	At Acquisition Date (1) Consideration Investment in property Inventory of manufactured homes In-place leases and other intangible assets Other assets (liabilities), net Total identifiable assets acquired net of liabilities assumed Cash and escrow Debt assumed Series D Preferred OP units Total consideration Glen Ellis $ 5,955 $ — $ — $ (79 ) $ 5,876 $ 1,976 $ 3,900 $ — $ 5,876 Leisure Point Resort 43,632 18 850 (678 ) 43,822 43,822 — — 43,822 Reunion Lake 23,493 — — (1,153 ) 22,340 22,340 — — 22,340 River Plantation 22,589 75 — — 22,664 22,664 — — 22,664 Massey's Landing (2) 19,780 — 220 (446 ) 19,554 19,554 — — 19,554 Shelby Properties 85,969 2,011 6,520 (1,015 ) 93,485 93,485 — — 93,485 Buena Vista 20,221 439 1,590 (93 ) 22,157 22,157 — — 22,157 Country Village 62,784 — 2,020 31 64,835 12,905 — 51,930 64,835 Hid'n Pines 10,680 — 70 (233 ) 10,517 10,517 — — 10,517 Hacienda del Rio 111,971 15 3,280 (237 ) 115,029 115,029 — — 115,029 Total $ 407,074 $ 2,558 $ 14,550 $ (3,903 ) $ 420,279 $ 364,449 $ 3,900 $ 51,930 $ 420,279 (1) The purchase price allocations are preliminary and may be adjusted as final valuations are determined. (2) As of September 30, 2019, Massey’s Landing has an incremental estimated deferred purchase price of $ 12.6 million which is recorded within Land improvements and buildings, and Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be allocated as additional purchase price consideration once finalized. The following table summarizes the amounts of assets acquired net of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date and the consideration paid for the acquisitions completed in 2018 (in thousands): At Acquisition Date Consideration Investment in property In-place leases and other intangible assets Debt assumed Other liabilities, net Total identifiable assets acquired net of liabilities assumed Cash Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC Total consideration Leaf Verde $ 11,587 $ 60 $ — $ — $ 11,647 $ 11,647 $ — $ — $ 11,647 Archview 14,550 — — — 14,550 14,550 — — 14,550 Petoskey KOA 8,730 270 — — 9,000 9,000 — — 9,000 Sands 13,790 460 — — 14,250 14,250 — — 14,250 Sun NG Resorts 240,649 16,339 (3,120 ) (11,990 ) 241,878 184,625 35,277 21,976 241,878 Silver Creek 7,250 — — — 7,250 7,250 — — 7,250 Highway West 36,500 — — — 36,500 36,500 — — 36,500 Compass 13,930 70 — — 14,000 14,000 — — 14,000 Total $ 346,986 $ 17,199 $ (3,120 ) $ (11,990 ) $ 349,075 $ 291,822 $ 35,277 $ 21,976 $ 349,075
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information	The total amount of revenues and net income included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 related to the acquisitions completed in 2019 are set forth in the following table (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Total revenues $ 14,010 $ 26,938 Net income $ 6,308 $ 11,181 The information presented below has been prepared for comparative purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of either future results of operations or the results of operations that would have actually occurred had the acquisition been consummated on January 1, 2018 (in thousands, except per-share data): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Total revenues $ 369,296 $ 335,548 $ 971,477 $ 878,077 Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 59,317 $ 48,289 $ 133,868 $ 101,737 Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - basic $ 0.68 $ 0.61 $ 1.53 $ 1.27 Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - diluted $ 0.68 $ 0.60 $ 1.52 $ 1.27

Collateralized Receivables an_2

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Repurchase price percentage	Number of Payments Repurchase Percentage Less than or equal to 15 100 % Greater than 15 but less than 64 90 % Equal to or greater than 64 but less than 120 65 % 120 or more 50 %
Schedule of collateralized loans	The change in the aggregate gross principal balance of the collateralized receivables is as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ 107,731 Principal payments and payoffs from our customers (9,110 ) Principal reduction from repurchased homes (4,952 ) Total activity (14,062 ) Ending balance $ 93,669
Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for collateralized and installment notes receivable	The following table sets forth the allowance for the collateralized receivables as of September 30, 2019 (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ (807 ) Lower of cost or market write-downs 135 Decrease to reserve balance 57 Total activity 192 Ending balance $ (615 )

Notes And Other Receivables (Ta

Notes And Other Receivables (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Schedule of notes and other receivables	The following table sets forth certain information regarding notes and other receivables (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net $ 100,431 $ 112,798 Other receivables, net 74,503 47,279 Total notes and other receivables, net $ 174,934 $ 160,077
Schedule of Installment Notes Receivable	The change in the aggregate gross principal balance of the installment notes receivable is as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ 113,495 Investment in installment notes 248 Principal payments and payoffs from our customers (6,242 ) Principal reduction from repossessed homes (6,380 ) Total activity (12,374 ) Ending balance $ 101,121
Installment Notes Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for collateralized and installment notes receivable	The following table sets forth the allowance change for the installment notes receivable as follows (in thousands): Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Beginning balance $ (697 ) Lower of cost or market write-downs 147 Increase to reserve balance (140 ) Total activity 7 Ending balance $ (690 )

Intangible Assets Intangible As

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	The gross carrying amounts, and accumulated amortization are as follows (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Intangible Asset Useful Life Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization In-place leases 7 years $ 119,184 $ (70,321 ) $ 103,547 $ (59,068 ) Franchise agreements and other intangible assets 7 - 20 years 16,944 (2,555 ) 16,641 (1,942 ) Total $ 136,128 $ (72,876 ) $ 120,188 $ (61,010 )
Schedule of Intangible Assets Amortization Expense	Total amortization expenses related to the intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Intangible Asset Amortization Expense September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 In-place leases $ 3,781 $ 3,320 $ 11,253 $ 10,305 Franchise fees and other intangible assets 205 717 614 755 Total $ 3,986 $ 4,037 $ 11,867 $ 11,060
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	We anticipate amortization expense for our intangible assets to be as follows for the next five years (in thousands) Year Remainder of 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Estimated expense $ 3,873 $ 14,373 $ 13,981 $ 9,379 $ 6,004

Investment In Affiliates (Table

Investment In Affiliates (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Method Investments	The investment balance in each nonconsolidated affiliate is as follows (in millions): Investment September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Investment in RezPlot $ 4.7 $ — Investment in Sungenia JV 9.9 0.7 Investment in GTSC (1) 15.8 29.8 Investment in OFS LLC 0.3 0.1 Total $ 30.7 $ 30.6 (1) The decrease in investment balance is primarily due to return of capital. The Equity income / (loss) from each nonconsolidated affiliate is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Equity income September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 RezPlot equity loss $ (356 ) $ — $ (804 ) $ — Sungenia JV equity loss (127 ) — (185 ) — GTSC equity income 478 126 1,611 59 OFS LLC equity income 82 — 192 — Total equity income $ 77 $ 126 $ 814 $ 59

Consolidated Variable Interes_2

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
DisclosureofVariableInterestEntities [Abstract]
Schedule of Variable Interest Entities	The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets after eliminations (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Assets Investment property, net $ 341,563 $ 308,171 Other assets, net 22,598 19,809 Total Assets $ 364,161 $ 327,980 Liabilities and Other Equity Debt $ 47,256 $ 44,172 Preferred Equity - Sun NG Resorts - mandatorily redeemable 35,249 35,277 Other liabilities 28,031 6,914 Total Liabilities 110,536 86,363 Equity Interests - NG Sun LLC 27,461 21,976 Noncontrolling interests 7,854 7,145 Total Liabilities and Other Equity $ 145,851 $ 115,484

Debt And Lines Of Credit (Table

Debt And Lines Of Credit (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of debt and lines of credit [Table Text Block]	The following table sets forth certain information regarding debt including premiums, discounts and deferred financing costs (in thousands): Carrying Amount Weighted Average Years to Maturity Weighted Average Interest Rates September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Collateralized term loans - Life Companies $ 1,320,199 $ 1,259,158 16.2 14.4 4.0 % 3.9 % Collateralized term loans - FNMA 870,627 770,417 6.1 5.1 4.0 % 4.4 % Collateralized term loans - CMBS 400,051 405,702 3.3 4.1 5.1 % 5.1 % Collateralized term loans - FMCC 376,251 380,680 5.1 5.9 3.9 % 3.9 % Secured borrowings 93,669 107,731 13.8 14.4 9.9 % 9.9 % Preferred equity - Sun NG Resorts - mandatorily redeemable 35,249 35,277 3.0 3.8 6.0 % 6.0 % Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable 34,663 37,338 4.3 4.7 6.5 % 6.6 % Lines of credit 140,632 128,000 3.6 2.3 3.2 % 3.8 % Total debt $ 3,271,341 $ 3,124,303 9.8 9.0 4.3 % 4.5 %

Equity and Temporary Equity (Ta

Equity and Temporary Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
Activity of Conversions	Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Series Conversion Rate Units/Shares Converted Common Stock (1) Units/Shares Converted Common Stock (1) Common OP unit 1.0000 443,158 443,158 16,908 16,908 Series A-1 preferred OP unit 2.4390 15,732 38,363 13,100 31,948 Series A-4 preferred OP unit 0.4444 4,708 2,092 13,765 6,116 Series A-4 preferred stock 0.4444 11,288 5,016 22,576 10,033 Series C preferred OP unit 1.1100 4,014 4,455 1,919 2,130
Schedule of Dividends Payable	Cash Distributions Record Date Payment Date Distribution per Share Total Distribution (thousands) Common Stock, Common OP units and Restricted Stock 9/30/2019 10/15/2019 $ 0.75 $ 69,724 Series A-4 Preferred Stock 9/14/2019 9/30/2019 $ 0.40625 $ 427

Share-Based Compensation (Table

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]
Schedule of Restricted Stock Granted	The following table shows details on grants of equity awards during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 : Grant Period Type Plan Shares Granted Grant Date Fair Value Per Share Vesting Type Vesting Anniversary Percentage 2019 Executive Officers 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 44,000 $ 115.39 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years 2019 Executive Officers 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 66,000 (2) $ 115.39 (2) Market Condition 3rd 100.0 % 2019 Directors 2004 Non-Employee Director Option Plan 18,000 $ 113.68 (1) Time Based 3rd 100.0 % 2019 Key Employees 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 55,770 $ 120.01 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years 2019 Key Employees 2015 Equity Incentive Plan 3,500 $ 138.07 (1) Time Based 20.0% annually over 5 years (1) The fair value of the grants were determined by using the average closing price of our common stock on the dates the shares were issued. (2) Share-based compensation for restricted stock awards with market conditions is measured based on an estimate of shares expected to vest. We estimate the fair value of share-based compensation for restricted stock with market conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation. At the grant date our common stock price was $115.39 . Based on the Monte Carlo simulation we expect 75.1% of the 66,000 shares to vest.

Segment Reporting (Tables)

Segment Reporting (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	A presentation of segment financial information is summarized as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues $ 288,422 $ 64,249 $ 352,671 $ 257,215 $ 59,720 $ 316,935 Operating expenses / Cost of sales 113,201 42,326 155,527 101,550 39,928 141,478 Net operating income / Gross profit 175,221 21,923 197,144 155,665 19,792 175,457 Adjustments to arrive at net income / (loss) Interest and other revenues, net 9,772 — 9,772 6,478 — 6,478 Home selling expenses — (3,988 ) (3,988 ) — (4,043 ) (4,043 ) General and administrative expenses (19,966 ) (3,009 ) (22,975 ) (16,919 ) (2,844 ) (19,763 ) Catastrophic weather related charges, net (341 ) — (341 ) (173 ) — (173 ) Depreciation and amortization (56,568 ) (19,964 ) (76,532 ) (54,305 ) (17,677 ) (71,982 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (12,755 ) — (12,755 ) (528 ) — (528 ) Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity (1,216 ) — (1,216 ) (1,142 ) — (1,142 ) Interest expense (32,214 ) (5 ) (32,219 ) (33,927 ) (5 ) (33,932 ) Remeasurement of marketable securities 12,661 — 12,661 — — — Other income / (expense), net (4,401 ) (7 ) (4,408 ) 1,230 1 1,231 Income from nonconsolidated affiliates — 77 77 — 126 126 Current tax expense (328 ) (92 ) (420 ) (135 ) (78 ) (213 ) Deferred tax benefit / (expense) (349 ) — (349 ) 199 — 199 Net income / (loss) 69,516 (5,065 ) 64,451 56,443 (4,728 ) 51,715 Less: Preferred return to preferred OP units / equity (1,599 ) — (1,599 ) (1,152 ) — (1,152 ) Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (5,644 ) 222 (5,422 ) (4,299 ) 228 (4,071 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. 62,273 (4,843 ) 57,430 50,992 (4,500 ) 46,492 Less: Preferred stock distribution (428 ) — (428 ) (432 ) — (432 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 61,845 $ (4,843 ) $ 57,002 $ 50,560 $ (4,500 ) $ 46,060 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Revenues $ 757,047 $ 179,492 $ 936,539 $ 671,695 $ 162,205 $ 833,900 Operating expenses / Cost of sales 287,635 115,917 403,552 253,407 107,973 361,380 Net operating income / Gross profit 469,412 63,575 532,987 418,288 54,232 472,520 Adjustments to arrive at net income / (loss) Interest and other revenues, net 25,679 — 25,679 18,922 — 18,922 Home selling expenses — (10,938 ) (10,938 ) — (11,319 ) (11,319 ) General and administrative expenses (59,922 ) (8,637 ) (68,559 ) (52,706 ) (8,266 ) (60,972 ) Catastrophic weather related charges, net (1,294 ) (8 ) (1,302 ) 2,206 (219 ) 1,987 Depreciation and amortization (171,867 ) (57,374 ) (229,241 ) (155,624 ) (50,568 ) (206,192 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (13,478 ) — (13,478 ) (1,255 ) — (1,255 ) Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity (3,491 ) — (3,491 ) (2,551 ) — (2,551 ) Interest expense (99,880 ) (14 ) (99,894 ) (98,306 ) (15 ) (98,321 ) Remeasurement of marketable securities 16,548 — 16,548 — — — Other income / (expense), net (1,480 ) (9 ) (1,489 ) (3,215 ) 1 (3,214 ) Income from nonconsolidated affiliates — 814 814 — 59 59 Current tax expense (629 ) (277 ) (906 ) (366 ) (246 ) (612 ) Deferred tax benefit / (expense) (36 ) — (36 ) 434 — 434 Net income / (loss) 159,562 (12,868 ) 146,694 125,827 (16,341 ) 109,486 Less: Preferred return to preferred OP units / equity (4,640 ) — (4,640 ) (3,335 ) — (3,335 ) Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (9,643 ) 595 (9,048 ) (9,202 ) 810 (8,392 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. 145,279 (12,273 ) 133,006 113,290 (15,531 ) 97,759 Less: Preferred stock distribution (1,288 ) — (1,288 ) (1,305 ) — (1,305 ) Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 143,991 $ (12,273 ) $ 131,718 $ 111,985 $ (15,531 ) $ 96,454
Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated	September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Real Property Operations Home Sales and Rentals Consolidated Identifiable assets Investment property, net $ 6,184,173 $ 573,266 $ 6,757,439 $ 5,586,444 $ 531,872 $ 6,118,316 Cash and cash equivalents (12,506 ) 38,704 26,198 24,343 25,968 50,311 Marketable securities 64,818 — 64,818 49,037 — 49,037 Inventory of manufactured homes 17 55,217 55,234 — 49,199 49,199 Notes and other receivables, net 158,136 16,798 174,934 145,673 14,404 160,077 Collateralized receivables, net 93,054 — 93,054 106,924 — 106,924 Other assets, net 181,895 44,282 226,177 140,027 36,135 176,162 Total assets $ 6,669,587 $ 728,267 $ 7,397,854 $ 6,052,448 $ 657,578 $ 6,710,026

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	Computations of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Numerator Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders $ 57,002 $ 46,060 $ 131,718 $ 96,454 Less allocation to restricted stock awards (437 ) (396 ) (1,020 ) (830 ) Basic earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards 56,565 45,664 130,698 95,624 Add allocation to restricted stock awards 437 396 1,020 — Diluted earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards $ 57,002 $ 46,060 $ 131,718 $ 95,624 Denominator Weighted average common shares outstanding 89,847 81,599 87,499 80,022 Add: dilutive stock options 1 2 1 2 Add: dilutive restricted stock 484 480 431 — Diluted weighted average common shares and securities 90,332 82,081 87,931 80,024 Earnings per share available to common stockholders after allocation Basic 0.63 0.56 1.49 1.19 Diluted 0.63 0.56 1.50 1.19
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	The following table presents the outstanding securities that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands): As of September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Series A-4 preferred stock 1,052 1,063 Common OP units 2,282 2,729 A-1 preferred OP units 316 332 A-3 preferred OP units 40 40 A-4 preferred OP units 406 410 Series C preferred OP units 310 314 Series D preferred OP units 489 — Aspen preferred OP units 1,284 1,284 Total securities 6,179 6,172

Fair Value of Financial Instr_2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	The table below sets forth our financial assets and liabilities that required disclosure of fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019 . The table presents the carrying values and fair values of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , that were measured using the valuation techniques described above (in thousands). The table excludes other financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable as the carrying values associated with these instruments approximate fair value since their maturities are less than one year. September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Financial assets Carrying Value Fair Carrying Value Fair Marketable securities $ 64,818 $ 64,818 $ 49,037 $ 49,037 Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net 100,431 100,431 112,798 112,798 Collateralized receivables, net 93,054 93,054 106,924 106,924 Notes receivable from third party 30,186 30,186 — — Total $ 288,489 $ 288,489 $ 268,759 $ 268,759 Financial liabilities Debt (excluding secured borrowings) $ 3,037,040 $ 3,099,392 $ 2,888,572 $ 2,757,649 Secured borrowings 93,669 93,669 107,731 107,731 Lines of credit 140,632 140,632 128,000 128,000 Other liabilities (contingent consideration) 6,052 6,052 4,640 4,640 Total $ 3,277,393 $ 3,339,745 $ 3,128,943 $ 2,998,020

Recent Accounting Pronounceme_2

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	The following table reconciles our beginning-of-period and end-of-period balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for the periods shown (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 26,198 $ 50,311 $ 113,556 $ 10,127 Restricted cash 15,528 11,951 15,538 13,382 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 41,726 $ 62,262 $ 129,094 $ 23,509
Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	The following table reconciles our beginning-of-period and end-of-period balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for the periods shown (in thousands): September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 26,198 $ 50,311 $ 113,556 $ 10,127 Restricted cash 15,528 11,951 15,538 13,382 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 41,726 $ 62,262 $ 129,094 $ 23,509

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]	for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease asset and liabilities (in thousands) Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 Description Financial Statement Classification December 31, 2018 Lease assets Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 4,152 Capital lease asset Land $ 4,098 Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities Other asset, net $ 24,197 n/a Right-of-use asset obtained relative to below market operating lease Other asset, net $ 28,554 Below market Lease intangible asset Other Asset, net $ 29,118 Lease liabilities Finance lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 4,152 Capital lease liabilities Other Liabilities $ 4,098 Operating lease liabilities Other liabilities $ 24,674 n/a Lease expense for finance and operating leases as included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: Lease expense (in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Description Financial Statement Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense Amortization of right-of-use assets Interest expense $ 18 $ 55 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 77 Operating lease cost General and administrative expense, Property operating and maintenance 794 2,598 Variable lease cost Property operating and maintenance 468 1,214 Total lease expense $ 1,306 $ 3,944
Finance Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]		Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 where we are the lessee include: Maturity of lease liabilities (in thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019) $ 712 $ 97 $ 809 2020 2,397 120 2,517 2021 2,446 120 2,566 2022 2,483 120 2,603 2023 2,572 120 2,692 Thereafter 35,185 4,060 39,245 Total lease payments $ 45,795 $ 4,637 $ 50,432 Less: Imputed interest (21,121 ) (485 ) (21,606 ) Present value of lease liabilities $ 24,674 $ 4,152 $ 28,826
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]		Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of the quarter ended September 30, 2019 where we are the lessee include: Maturity of lease liabilities (in thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019) $ 712 $ 97 $ 809 2020 2,397 120 2,517 2021 2,446 120 2,566 2022 2,483 120 2,603 2023 2,572 120 2,692 Thereafter 35,185 4,060 39,245 Total lease payments $ 45,795 $ 4,637 $ 50,432 Less: Imputed interest (21,121 ) (485 ) (21,606 ) Present value of lease liabilities $ 24,674 $ 4,152 $ 28,826

Revenue (Details)

Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	$ 256,423	$ 229,607	$ 699,301	$ 625,488
Revenues	362,443	323,413	962,218	852,822
Income From Real Property [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	256,423	229,607	699,301	625,488
Revenue From Home Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	49,805	46,131	136,665	122,248
Rental Home Revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	14,444	13,589	42,827	39,957
Ancillary Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	31,999	27,608	57,746	46,207
Interest [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	4,770	5,256	14,489	15,849
Brokerage Commissions And Other Revenues, Net [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	5,002	1,222	11,190	3,073
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	298,194	263,693	782,726	690,617
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Income From Real Property [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	256,423	229,607	699,301	625,488
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Revenue From Home Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	0	0	0	0
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Rental Home Revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	0	0	0	0
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Ancillary Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	31,999	27,608	57,746	46,207
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Interest [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	4,770	5,256	14,489	15,849
Real Property Operations Segment [Member] | Brokerage Commissions And Other Revenues, Net [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	5,002	1,222	11,190	3,073
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	64,249	59,720	179,492	162,205
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Income From Real Property [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	0	0	0	0
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Revenue From Home Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	49,805	46,131	136,665	122,248
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Rental Home Revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	14,444	13,589	42,827	39,957
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Ancillary Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	0	0	0	0
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Interest [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	0	0	0	0
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member] | Brokerage Commissions And Other Revenues, Net [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Income from real property	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Revenue Contract Balances (Deta

Revenue Contract Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Asset, Reclassified to Receivable	$ 20.1	$ 16.1

Real Estate Acquisitions, Sched

Real Estate Acquisitions, Schedule of Properties Acquired (Details) $ in Thousands	Aug. 22, 2019USD ($)site	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)sitedevelopment_siteshares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)sitedevelopment_site
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 407,074	$ 346,986
Sites | site				4,825	4,882
Payments to Acquire Land		$ 4,700			$ 14,000
Development Sites | development_site				109	1,166
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 2,558
In-place leases and other intangible assets				14,550	$ 17,199
Other assets (liabilities), net				(3,903)	(11,990)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				420,279	349,075
Cash				364,449	291,822
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				3,900
Total consideration transferred				420,279	349,075
Equity				51,930	35,277
Jensen Property Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sites | site	5,230
Development Sites | site	466
Total consideration transferred	$ 343,600
Equity	$ 274,800
Chincoteague [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration transferred		$ 19,500
Glen Ellis [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 5,955
Sites | site				244
Development Sites | development_site				40
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 0
In-place leases and other intangible assets				0
Other assets (liabilities), net				(79)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				5,876
Cash				1,976
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				3,900
Total consideration transferred				5,876
Equity				0
Leisure Point Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 43,632
Sites | site				502
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 18
In-place leases and other intangible assets				850
Other assets (liabilities), net				(678)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				43,822
Cash				43,822
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				43,822
Equity				0
Reunion Lake [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 23,493
Sites | site				202
Development Sites | development_site				69
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 0
In-place leases and other intangible assets				0
Other assets (liabilities), net				(1,153)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				22,340
Cash				22,340
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				22,340
Equity				0
River Plantation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 22,589
Sites | site				309
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 75
In-place leases and other intangible assets				0
Other assets (liabilities), net				0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				22,664
Cash				22,664
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred			$ 2,700	22,664
Equity				0
Massey's Landing [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Considered Transferred, Deferred Payment				12,600
Investment in property				$ 19,780
Sites | site				291
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 0
In-place leases and other intangible assets				220
Other assets (liabilities), net				(446)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				19,554
Cash				19,554
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				19,554
Equity				0
Leaf Verde RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 11,587
Sites | site					376
Development Sites | development_site					0
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 60
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					11,647
Cash					11,647
Total consideration transferred					11,647
Equity					0
Archview [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 14,550
Sites | site					114
Development Sites | development_site					50
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 0
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					14,550
Cash					14,550
Total consideration transferred					14,550
Equity					0
Petoskey RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 8,730
Sites | site					210
Development Sites | development_site					0
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 270
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					9,000
Cash					9,000
Total consideration transferred					9,000
Equity					0
The Sands [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 13,790
Sites | site					507
Development Sites | development_site					0
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 460
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					14,250
Cash					14,250
Total consideration transferred					14,250
Equity					0
Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 240,649
Sites | site					2,700
Development Sites | development_site					940
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 16,339
Other assets (liabilities), net					(11,990)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					241,878
Cash					184,625
Total consideration transferred					241,878
Equity					35,277
Silver Creek [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 7,250
Sites | site					264
Development Sites | development_site					176
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 0
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					7,250
Cash					7,250
Total consideration transferred					7,250
Equity					0
Highway West [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 36,500
Sites | site					536
Development Sites | development_site					0
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 0
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					36,500
Cash					36,500
Total consideration transferred					36,500
Equity					0
Compass [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property					$ 13,930
Sites | site					175
Development Sites | development_site					0
In-place leases and other intangible assets					$ 70
Other assets (liabilities), net					0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net					14,000
Cash					14,000
Total consideration transferred					14,000
Equity					0
Ocean West [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Land					$ 200
Shelby Properties [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 85,969
Sites | site				1,308
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 2,011
In-place leases and other intangible assets				6,520
Other assets (liabilities), net				(1,015)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				93,485
Cash				93,485
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				93,485
Equity				0
Buena Vista [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 20,221
Sites | site				400
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 439
In-place leases and other intangible assets				1,590
Other assets (liabilities), net				(93)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				22,157
Cash				22,157
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				22,157
Equity				0
Country Village [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 62,784
Sites | site				518
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 0
In-place leases and other intangible assets				2,020
Other assets (liabilities), net				31
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				64,835
Cash				12,905
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				64,835
Equity				51,930
Hid'n Pines [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 10,680
Sites | site				321
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 0
In-place leases and other intangible assets				70
Other assets (liabilities), net				(233)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				10,517
Cash				10,517
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				10,517
Equity				0
Hacienda del Rio [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 111,971
Sites | site				730
Development Sites | development_site				0
Inventory of manufactured homes				$ 15
In-place leases and other intangible assets				3,280
Other assets (liabilities), net				(237)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net				115,029
Cash				115,029
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-term Debt				0
Total consideration transferred				115,029
Equity				0
sui_chulavistamember [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment in property				$ 300
Series D Preferred OP Units
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Shares outstanding | shares				488,958
Mobile Home [Member] | Jensen Property Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sites | site	31
Mobile Home [Member] | Leisure Point Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sites | site				201
Mobile Home [Member] | Shelby Properties [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sites | site				2
RV [Member] | Leisure Point Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sites | site				301

Real Estate Acquisitions, Sch_2

Real Estate Acquisitions, Schedule of Other Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Transaction Costs		$ 9,300
At acquistion date
Investment in property		407,074	$ 346,986
Inventory of manufactured homes		2,558
In-place leases and other intangible assets		14,550	17,199
Other assets (liabilities), net		(3,903)	(11,990)
Debt assumed			(3,120)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		420,279	349,075
Consideration
Cash		364,449	291,822
Debt assumed		3,900
Equity		51,930	35,277
Total consideration transferred		420,279	349,075
River Plantation [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		22,589
Inventory of manufactured homes		75
In-place leases and other intangible assets		0
Other assets (liabilities), net		0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		22,664
Consideration
Cash		22,664
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred	$ 2,700	22,664
sui_chulavistamember [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		300
Massey's Landing [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		19,780
Inventory of manufactured homes		0
In-place leases and other intangible assets		220
Other assets (liabilities), net		(446)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		19,554
Consideration
Cash		19,554
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred		19,554
Shelby Properties [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		85,969
Inventory of manufactured homes		2,011
In-place leases and other intangible assets		6,520
Other assets (liabilities), net		(1,015)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		93,485
Consideration
Cash		93,485
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred		93,485
Silver Creek [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			7,250
In-place leases and other intangible assets			0
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			7,250
Consideration
Cash			7,250
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			7,250
Highway West [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			36,500
In-place leases and other intangible assets			0
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			36,500
Consideration
Cash			36,500
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			36,500
Compass [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			13,930
In-place leases and other intangible assets			70
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			14,000
Consideration
Cash			14,000
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			14,000
Leaf Verde RV Resort [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			11,587
In-place leases and other intangible assets			60
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			11,647
Consideration
Cash			11,647
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			11,647
Archview [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			14,550
In-place leases and other intangible assets			0
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			14,550
Consideration
Cash			14,550
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			14,550
Petoskey RV Resort [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			8,730
In-place leases and other intangible assets			270
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			9,000
Consideration
Cash			9,000
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			9,000
The Sands [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			13,790
In-place leases and other intangible assets			460
Other assets (liabilities), net			0
Debt assumed			0
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			14,250
Consideration
Cash			14,250
Equity			0
Total consideration transferred			14,250
Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property			240,649
In-place leases and other intangible assets			16,339
Other assets (liabilities), net			(11,990)
Debt assumed			(3,120)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed			241,878
Consideration
Cash			184,625
Equity			35,277
Total consideration transferred			241,878
Buena Vista [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		20,221
Inventory of manufactured homes		439
In-place leases and other intangible assets		1,590
Other assets (liabilities), net		(93)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		22,157
Consideration
Cash		22,157
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred		22,157
Country Village [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		62,784
Inventory of manufactured homes		0
In-place leases and other intangible assets		2,020
Other assets (liabilities), net		31
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		64,835
Consideration
Cash		12,905
Debt assumed		0
Equity		51,930
Total consideration transferred		64,835
Hid'n Pines [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		10,680
Inventory of manufactured homes		0
In-place leases and other intangible assets		70
Other assets (liabilities), net		(233)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		10,517
Consideration
Cash		10,517
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred		10,517
Hacienda del Rio [Member]
At acquistion date
Investment in property		111,971
Inventory of manufactured homes		15
In-place leases and other intangible assets		3,280
Other assets (liabilities), net		(237)
Total identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed		115,029
Consideration
Cash		115,029
Debt assumed		0
Equity		0
Total consideration transferred		$ 115,029
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Consideration
Equity			21,976
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Silver Creek [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Highway West [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Compass [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Leaf Verde RV Resort [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Archview [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Petoskey RV Resort [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | The Sands [Member]
Consideration
Equity			0
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]
Consideration
Equity			$ 21,976

Real Estate Acquisitions, Sch_3

Real Estate Acquisitions, Schedule of Land Acquired (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)development_site
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		2,275
Cost | $	$ 4.7	$ 14
Ocean West [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		26
Cost | $		$ 0.2
Water Oak [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		296
Cost | $		$ 1.9
Oak Crest [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		220
Cost | $		$ 4.2
Pecan Park [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		158
Cost | $		$ 1.3
Smith Creek Crossing [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		310
Cost | $		$ 0.9
Apple Carr Village [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		121
Cost | $		$ 0.2
River Run Ranch [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Development Sites | development_site		1,144
Cost | $		$ 5.3

Real Estate Acquisitions, Pro F

Real Estate Acquisitions, Pro Forma (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Document Period End Date			Sep. 30, 2019
Total revenues	$ 14,010		$ 26,938
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	6,308		11,181
Acquisitions - 2019 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	369,296	$ 335,548	971,477	$ 878,077
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	$ 59,317	$ 48,289	$ 133,868	$ 101,737
Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - basic	$ 0.68	$ 0.61	$ 1.53	$ 1.27
Net income per share attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - diluted	$ 0.68	$ 0.60	$ 1.52	$ 1.27

Collateralized Receivables an_3

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets, Repurchase price percentage (Details) - Collateralized Receivables [Member]	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
Less than or equal to 15 [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Repurchase Percentage	100.00%
Greater than 15 but less than 64 [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Repurchase Percentage	90.00%
Equal to or greater than 64 but less than 120 [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Repurchase Percentage	65.00%
120 or more [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Repurchase Percentage	50.00%

Collateralized Receivables an_4

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets, Schedule of collateralized loans (Details) - Collateralized Receivables [Member] $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal payments and payoffs from our customers	$ (9,110)
Principal reduction from repurchased homes	4,952
Total activity	(14,062)
Ending balance	93,669
Secured Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Beginning balance	107,700
Ending balance	$ 93,700

Collateralized Receivables an_5

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets, Allowance for Collateralized Receivables (Details) - Collateralized Receivables [Member] $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (807)
Lower of cost or market write-downs	135
Increase to reserve balance	57
Total activity	192
Ending balance	$ (615)

Collateralized Receivables an_6

Collateralized Receivables and Transfers of Financial Assets, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables, net	$ 174,934		$ 174,934		$ 160,077
Other Borrowings	93,669		93,669		107,731
Interest income and expense, net	2,300	$ 2,800	7,100	$ 8,500
Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance	(615)		$ (615)		$ (807)
Receivable With Imputed Interest, Term			13 years 6 months		14 years 1 month 6 days
Financing Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss	93,669		$ 93,669
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Effective Yield (Interest Rate)			9.90%		9.90%
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes and other receivables, net	93,100		$ 93,100		$ 106,900
Secured Debt [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Other Borrowings					107,731
Secured Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 93,700		$ 93,700		$ 107,700

Notes and Other Receivables, Sc

Notes and Other Receivables, Schedule of notes and other receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes and other receivables, net	$ 174,934	$ 160,077
Other receivables, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes and other receivables, net	$ 74,503	47,279
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes and other receivables, net		$ 112,798

Notes And Other Receivables Not

Notes And Other Receivables Notes and Other Receivables, Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 174,934	$ 160,077
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance	$ 700	$ (700)
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Effective Yield (Interest Rate)	8.00%	8.00%
Receivable With Imputed Interest, Term	16 years	16 years 7 months 6 days
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss		$ 112,798
Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 100,431	$ 112,798
Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 100,431

Notes and Other Receivables, _2

Notes and Other Receivables, Schedule of installment notes receivable (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Collateralized receivables, net and Installment Notes Receivables on Manufactured Homes [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Increase to reserve balance	$ (140)
Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, gross [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Beginning balance	113,495
Financed sales of manufactured homes	248
Principal payments and payoffs from our customers	(6,242)
Principal reduction from repossessed homes	6,380
Total activity	(12,374)
Ending balance	$ 101,121

Notes and Other Receivables, Al

Notes and Other Receivables, Allowance for installment notes receivable (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Collateralized receivables, net and Installment Notes Receivables on Manufactured Homes [Member]
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (697)
Lower of cost or market write-downs	147
Increase to reserve balance	(140)
Total activity	7
Ending balance	$ (690)

Notes And Other Receivables N_2

Notes And Other Receivables Notes and Other Receivables, Other receivables - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Other receivables for rent, water, sewer usage	$ 8.6	$ 7.1
Allowance for rent, water, sewer usage receivables	(1.8)	(1.5)
Contract with Customer, Asset, Reclassified to Receivable	20.1	16.1
Insurance receivables	9.6	$ 24.1
Notes Receivables	30.2
Other Receivables	$ 6

Intangible Assets Intangible _2

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 136,128	$ 120,188
Accumulated Amortization		$ (72,876)	(61,010)
Leases, Acquired-in-Place [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life		7 years
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 119,184	103,547
Accumulated Amortization		(70,321)	(59,068)
Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount		16,944	16,641
Accumulated Amortization		$ (2,555)	$ (1,942)
Minimum [Member] | Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	20 years

Intangible Assets Intangible _3

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Schedule of Intangible Asset Amortization Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 3,986	$ 4,037	$ 11,060	$ 11,867
Leases, Acquired-in-Place [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	3,781	3,320	10,305	11,253
Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 205	$ 717	$ 755	$ 614

Intangible Assets, Intangibles

Intangible Assets, Intangibles Future Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Remainder of 2019	$ 3,873
2018	14,373
2019	13,981
2020	9,379
2021	$ 6,004

Investment In Affiliates , Narr

Investment In Affiliates , Narrative (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
RezPlot [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Sungenia JV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
GTSC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	40.00%		40.00%
Origen Financial Services [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	22.90%		22.90%

Investment in Affiliates, Inves

Investment in Affiliates, Investment Balance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	$ 77	$ 126	$ 814	$ 59
Equity Method Investments	30,700		30,700		$ 30,600
RezPlot [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(356)	0	(804)	0
Equity Method Investments	4,700		4,700		0
Sungenia JV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(127)	0	(185)	0
Equity Method Investments	9,900		9,900		700
GTSC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	478	126	1,611	59
Equity Method Investments	15,800		15,800		29,800
Origen Financial Services [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	82	$ 0	192	$ 0
Equity Method Investments	$ 300		$ 300		$ 100

Consolidated Variable Interes_3

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities, Schedule of Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Investment property, net	$ 6,757,439		$ 6,118,316
Other assets, net (including $22,598 and $19,809 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	226,177		176,162
Mortgage loans payable (including $47,256 and $44,172 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	2,967,128		2,815,957
Other liabilities (including $28,031 and $6,914 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	242,119		157,862
Liabilities	3,720,983		3,479,112
Consolidated variable interest entities	$ 7,854		$ 7,145
VIE as a Percentage of Consolidated Assets			4.90%
VIE as a Percentage of Consolidated Liabilities	3.00%		2.60%
VIE as a Percentage of Total Equity	1.00%		1.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Investment property, net	$ 341,563	$ 341,563	$ 308,171
Other assets, net (including $22,598 and $19,809 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	22,598	22,598	19,809
Total Assets	364,161		327,980
Mortgage loans payable (including $47,256 and $44,172 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	47,256	47,256	44,172
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable	35,249	35,249	35,277
Other liabilities (including $28,031 and $6,914 for consolidated VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; see Note 8)	28,031	$ 28,031	6,914
Liabilities	110,536		86,363
Equity Interests	27,461		21,976
Consolidated variable interest entities	7,854		7,145
Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity	$ 145,851		$ 115,484

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Sche

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Schedule of debt and lines of credit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Document Period End Date					Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Term	7 years
Secured debt			$ 2,815,957		$ 2,967,128	$ 2,815,957
Secured borrowings on collateralized receivables			$ 107,731		$ 93,669	$ 107,731
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					9 years 9 months 18 days	9 years
Weighted average interest rate			4.50%		4.30%	4.50%
Lines of credit			$ 128,000			$ 128,000
Total debt			3,124,303		$ 3,271,341	3,124,303
Collateralized term loans - CMBS [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt			$ 405,702		$ 870,627	$ 405,702
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					6 years 1 month 6 days	4 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average interest rate			5.10%		4.00%	5.10%
Secured borrowing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument term		25 years	20 years	20 years
Preferred OP units [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt					$ 34,663
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable			$ 37,338		$ 34,663	$ 37,338
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					13 years 9 months 18 days	4 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted average interest rate			6.60%		9.90%	6.60%
Preferred Equity, Mandatorily Redeemable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable		$ 35,200	$ 35,277		$ 35,249	$ 35,277
Debt instrument term					3 years
Debt weighted average to maturity, years						3 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted average interest rate			6.00%		6.00%	6.00%
Federal National Mortgage Association Certificates and Obligations (FNMA) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt			$ 770,417		$ 376,251	$ 770,417
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					5 years 1 month 6 days	5 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average interest rate			4.40%		3.90%	4.40%
Life Companies [Member] | Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt			$ 1,259,158		$ 1,320,199	$ 1,259,158
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					16 years 2 months 12 days	14 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted average interest rate			3.90%		4.00%	3.90%
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Certificates and Obligations (FHLMC) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt			$ 380,680		$ 400,051	$ 380,680
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					3 years 3 months 18 days	5 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted average interest rate			3.90%		5.10%	3.90%
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Secured borrowing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt			$ 107,731		$ 93,669	$ 107,731
Secured borrowings on collateralized receivables			$ 107,731			$ 107,731
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					4 years 3 months 18 days	14 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted average interest rate			9.90%		6.50%	9.90%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Lines of credit					$ 140,632
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt weighted average to maturity, years					3 years 7 months 6 days	2 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted average interest rate			3.80%		3.20%	3.80%

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narr

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narrative - Collateralized Term Loans (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)siteRate	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)properties	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)siteRate	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)community	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)properties	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)siteRate	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)siteRate	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	$ 12,755			$ 528				$ 13,478	$ 1,255
Reduction in secured borrowing balance						$ 14,062			16,093
Number of Real Estate Units Released | community					11
Weighted average interest rate | Rate	4.30%		4.50%					4.30%		4.50%
Sites | site	4,825		4,882					4,825		4,882
Debt weighted average to maturity, length								9 years 9 months 18 days		9 years
Total debt	$ 2,967,128		$ 2,815,957					$ 2,967,128		$ 2,815,957
Document Period End Date								Sep. 30, 2019
Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt		$ 700		900	$ 1,500		$ 200	$ 12,800
Reduction in secured borrowing balance		186,800	10,200	30,500	$ 177,700		$ 24,400	134,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 250,000	$ 265,000	$ 21,700	$ 228,000		$ 265,000		$ 250,000	$ 228,000	$ 21,700
Interest rate	4.30%	3.83%	4.10%	6.34%	4.53%	3.83%	4.53%	4.30%	6.34%	4.10%	6.36%
Debt instrument term		25 years	20 years	20 years
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.925%	4.17%	5.66%	4.10%		4.17%		2.925%	4.10%	5.66%
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate | Rate	4.00%		5.10%					4.00%		5.10%
Debt weighted average to maturity, length								6 years 1 month 6 days		4 years 1 month 6 days
Total debt	$ 870,627		$ 405,702					$ 870,627		$ 405,702
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net book value of properties securing collateralized term loans	$ 3,200,000							$ 3,200,000
Properties securing debt [Member] | Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sites | site	71,920							71,920
Debt Instrument, number of properties securing a debt instument | properties		183				183

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Na_2

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narrative - Aspen Preferred OP Units and Series B-3 preferred OP units (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)shares$ / sharesRate	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014$ / shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Document Period End Date			Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Rate Of Return		6.00%
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Term		7 years
Preferred Equity, Mandatorily Redeemable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Value of Shares Issued		$ 35,300
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable			$ 35,249	$ 35,200	$ 35,277
Preferred OP units [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable			$ 34,663		37,338
Preferred OP units [Member] | Convertible debt - Aspen Preferred OP Units January 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					34,700
Convertible units to shares (in shares) | shares			406,974
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period | Rate			6.50%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ / shares			$ 27			$ 68
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Percent Of Amount By Which The Market Price Of Common Stock Exceeds Threshold | Rate			25.00%
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted | shares			0.397
Series B-3 Preferred OP Units [Member] | Convertible debt - Aspen Preferred OP Units January 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 2,700
Series B-3 Preferred OP Units [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stock Redeemed or Called During Period, Shares | shares	26,750
Redemption price including accrued and unpaid dividends (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 100.153424
Stock Redeemed or Called During Period, Value	$ 2,700

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Na_3

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narrative - Line of Credit (Details)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)Rate	Jun. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018community	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)Rate	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)Rate	May 31, 2019USD ($)	Apr. 25, 2017USD ($)Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Term		7 years
Lines of credit						$ 128,000,000
Weighted average interest rate | Rate	4.30%				4.30%	4.50%
Debt weighted average to maturity, length					9 years 9 months 18 days	9 years
Number of Real Estate Units Released | community				11
Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity								$ 750,000,000
Line of credit, borrowing capacity								1,100,000,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			May 21, 2023
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity								350,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	$ 3,400,000				$ 3,400,000	$ 3,900,000
Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity	12,000,000				12,000,000
Lines of credit	3,600,000				$ 3,600,000	$ 0
Prime Rate [Member] | Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis points | Rate					10000.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity								650,000,000
Long-term Debt	137,000,000				$ 137,000,000
Lines of credit	$ 140,632,000				$ 140,632,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate | Rate	3.20%				3.20%	3.80%
Debt weighted average to maturity, length					3 years 7 months 6 days	2 years 3 months 18 days
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit variable interest rate | Rate	1.20%				1.20%
Term Loan [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity							$ 100,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Term Loan [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit variable interest rate | Rate	1.20%				1.20%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate | Rate								1.20%
Minimum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate	1.20%				1.20%
Maximum [Member] | Prime Rate [Member] | Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate | Rate	7.00%				7.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | Rate	6.00%				6.00%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate | Rate								2.10%
Maximum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.05%				2.05%
GTSC [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 125,000,000				$ 125,000,000
Long-term Debt	$ 44,100,000				$ 44,100,000
Ownership percentage	40.00%				40.00%	40.00%
GTSC [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 110,300,000				$ 110,300,000
GTSC [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis points	1.65%

Equity and Temporary Equity, Na

Equity and Temporary Equity, Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

Dec. 13, 2019shares

Feb. 28, 2020

Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)

May 31, 2019USD ($)shares

Feb. 28, 2019$ / sharesRateshares

Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares

Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)shares

Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)shares

Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)shares

Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)shares

Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)shares

Sep. 30, 2018shares

Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)

Nov. 30, 2004shares

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Sale of Stock, Number of Shares Issued in Transaction

3,737,500

Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $

$ 452,100

Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued | $

$ (93)

$ (117)

$ (256)

Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net | $

$ (1,549)

447,741

(4,321)

$ 538,183

$ 89,265

$ (3,296)

$ 163,800

Aggregate Value of Shares to be Issued in Accordance to Sales Agreement | $

$ 450,000

Commission, Maximum Percentage of Gross Sales Price Per Share According to Sales Agreement

200.00%

Series D Preferred OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Temporary Equity, Dividends For Term One, Percentage

3.75%

Series A-4 Preferred Stock, Shares Issued

488,958

Temporary Equity, Issuance Price | $ / shares

$ 100

Temporary Equity, Dividends For Term Two, Percentage | Rate

4.00%

Series A-4 Preferred Stock

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared | $ / shares

$ 0.40625

Payments of dividends | $

$ 427

Common Stock

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Dividends per common share | $ / shares

$ 0.75

Common Stock

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net | $

$ 37

$ 1

$ 54

$ 10

$ 2

Authorized to be repurchased (in shares)

1,000,000

Remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares)

400,000

400,000

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

5,000

0

1,000

0

Series A-4 preferred OP units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

4,708

13,765

Series A-4 preferred OP units | Common OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

2,092

6,116

Conversion of Common OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

443,158

16,908

Conversion of Common OP Units | Common OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

443,158

Series A-1 Preferred OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

15,732

13,100

Series A-1 Preferred OP Units | Common OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

38,363

31,948

NG Sun LLC [Member] | Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued, Floating Rate

5.50%

NG Sun LLC [Member] | Common Stock | Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued | $

$ 6,500

Sun NG RV Resorts [Member] | Common Stock | Sun NG RV Resorts [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued | $

$ 15,400

NG Sun Whitewater [Member] | Common Stock | NG Sun Whitewater [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entity, Equity Interests Issued | $

$ 2,400

Forecast [Member] | Series D Preferred OP Units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Per Share Upon Conversion

0.8

Forecast [Member] | Series A-4 preferred OP units

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock (in shares)

405,656

Equity and Temporary Equity, Co

Equity and Temporary Equity, Conversion of Stock (Details)	Dec. 13, 2019shares	Feb. 28, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019$ / sharesRateshares	Sep. 30, 2019shares	Sep. 30, 2018shares
Conversion of Common OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units				443,158	16,908
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units				15,732	13,100
Series A-4 preferred OP units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units				4,708	13,765
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units				11,288	22,576
Series C preferred OP units [Member]
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units				4,014	1,919
Series D Preferred OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Temporary Equity, Dividends For Term Two, Percentage | Rate			4.00%
Temporary Equity, Shares Issued			488,958
Temporary Equity, Issuance Price | $ / shares			$ 100
Common OP Units | Conversion of Common OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate				1,000
Conversion of units				443,158
Common OP Units | Series A-1 Preferred OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate				2,439
Conversion of units				38,363	31,948
Common OP Units | Series A-4 preferred OP units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate				444.4000
Conversion of units				2,092	6,116
Common OP Units | Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate				444.4000
Conversion of units				5,016	10,033
Common OP Units | Series C preferred OP units [Member]
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate				1,110
Conversion of units				4,455	2,130
Forecast [Member] | Series A-4 preferred OP units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units	405,656
Forecast [Member] | Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of units	1,051,501
Forecast [Member] | Series D Preferred OP Units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Per Share Upon Conversion		0.8
Forecast [Member] | Common OP Units | Series A-4 preferred OP units
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate	0.4444
Forecast [Member] | Common OP Units | Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion Rate	0.4444

Equity and Temporary Equity Equ

Equity and Temporary Equity Equity and Temporary Equity, Dividends Payable Table (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Oct. 15, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Common Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends per common share		$ 0.75
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared		$ 0.40625
Payments of dividends		$ 427
Subsequent Event [Member] | Common Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Payments of dividends	$ 69,724

Equity and Temporary Equity E_2

Equity and Temporary Equity Equity and Temporary Equity, Schedule of Sale of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended	15 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Aggregate Value of Shares to be Issued in Accordance to Sales Agreement							$ 450,000
Issuance of common stock and common OP units, net	$ (1,549)	$ 447,741	$ (4,321)	$ 538,183	$ 89,265	$ (3,296)		$ 163,800

Share-Based Compensation (Detai

Share-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Percent Expected To Vest	75.10%
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	$ 0.1
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	223,781
Executive Officer [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2015 Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting percentage	100.00%
Director [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2004 Non-employee Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares (in shares)	18,000
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 113.68
Award vesting percentage	100.00%
Time Based [Member] | Executive Officer [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2015 Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares (in shares)	44,000
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 115.39
Market Condition [Member] | Executive Officer [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2015 Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares (in shares)	66,000
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 115.39
Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share Price	$ 115.39
Exercises in period	1,500	0
Award Date One [Member] | Key Employees [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2004 Non-employee Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares (in shares)	55,770
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 120.01
Award Date Two [Member] | Key Employees [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | 2004 Non-employee Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares (in shares)	3,500
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 138.07

Segment Reporting Segment Repor

Segment Reporting Segment Reporting, Seasonality (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment									2
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expected annual transient RV revenue | $		$ 131.9			$ 106.2				$ 131.9
Transient RV rental revenue recognized as a percentage		41.10%	23.20%	19.90%	16.40%	42.60%	20.30%	20.70%
Forecast [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Transient RV rental revenue recognized as a percentage	15.80%

Segment Reporting Results of Op

Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	$ 362,443	$ 323,413	$ 962,218	$ 852,822
Home selling expenses	(3,988)	(4,043)	(10,938)	(11,319)
General and administrative expenses	(22,975)	(19,763)	(68,559)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(12,755)	(528)	(13,478)	(1,255)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,216)	(1,142)	(3,491)	(2,551)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(341)	(173)	(1,302)	1,987
Remeasurement of marketable securities	12,661	0	16,548	0
Distributions from Affiliate	77	126	814	59
Other income / (expense), net	(4,408)	1,231	(1,489)	(3,214)
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	(349)	199	(36)	434
Net Income	64,451	51,715	146,694	109,486
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	(1,599)	(1,152)	(4,640)	(3,335)
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,422)	(4,071)	(9,048)	(8,392)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	57,430	46,492	133,006	97,759
Less: Preferred stock distributions	(428)	(432)	(1,288)	(1,305)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	57,002	46,060	131,718	96,454
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	298,194	263,693	782,726	690,617
Net Income	69,516	56,443	159,562	125,827
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	(1,599)	(1,152)	(4,640)	(3,335)
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,644)	(4,299)	(9,643)	(9,202)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	62,273	50,992	145,279	113,290
Less: Preferred stock distributions	(428)	(432)	(1,288)	(1,305)
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	61,845	50,560	143,991	111,985
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	64,249	59,720	179,492	162,205
Net Income	(5,065)	(4,728)	(12,868)	(16,341)
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	0	0	0	0
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	222	228	595	810
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(4,843)	(4,500)	(12,273)	(15,531)
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0	0	0	0
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	(4,843)	(4,500)	(12,273)	(15,531)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	352,671	316,935	936,539	833,900
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	155,527	141,478	403,552	361,380
Net operating income / Gross profit	197,144	175,457	532,987	472,520
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	288,422	257,215	757,047	671,695
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	113,201	101,550	287,635	253,407
Net operating income / Gross profit	175,221	155,665	469,412	418,288
Operating Segments [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	64,249	59,720	179,492	162,205
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	42,326	39,928	115,917	107,973
Net operating income / Gross profit	21,923	19,792	63,575	54,232
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	9,772	6,478	25,679	18,922
Home selling expenses	(3,988)	(4,043)	(10,938)	(11,319)
General and administrative expenses	(22,975)	(19,763)	(68,559)	(60,972)
Depreciation and amortization	(76,532)	(71,982)	(229,241)	(206,192)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(12,755)	(528)	(13,478)	(1,255)
Interest expense	(32,219)	(33,932)	(99,894)	(98,321)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,216)	(1,142)	(3,491)	(2,551)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(341)	(173)	(1,302)	1,987
Remeasurement of marketable securities	12,661	0	16,548	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	77	126	814	59
Other income / (expense), net	(4,408)	1,231	(1,489)	(3,214)
Current tax expense	(420)	(213)	(906)	(612)
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	(349)	199	(36)	434
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	9,772	6,478	25,679	18,922
Home selling expenses	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	(19,966)	(16,919)	(59,922)	(52,706)
Depreciation and amortization	(56,568)	(54,305)	(171,867)	(155,624)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(12,755)	(528)	(13,478)	(1,255)
Interest expense	(32,214)	(33,927)	(99,880)	(98,306)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,216)	(1,142)	(3,491)	(2,551)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(341)	(173)	(1,294)	2,206
Remeasurement of marketable securities	12,661	0	16,548	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	0	0	0	0
Other income / (expense), net	(4,401)	1,230	(1,480)	(3,215)
Current tax expense	(328)	(135)	(629)	(366)
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	(349)	199	(36)	434
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Home selling expenses	(3,988)	(4,043)	(10,938)	(11,319)
General and administrative expenses	(3,009)	(2,844)	(8,637)	(8,266)
Depreciation and amortization	(19,964)	(17,677)	(57,374)	(50,568)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(5)	(5)	(14)	(15)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	0	0	0	0
Catastrophic weather related charges	0	0	(8)	(219)
Remeasurement of marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	77	126	814	59
Other income / (expense), net	(7)	1	(9)	1
Current tax expense	(92)	(78)	(277)	(246)
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Segment Reporting Identifiable

Segment Reporting Identifiable Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Investment property, net	$ 6,757,439	$ 6,118,316
Cash and cash equivalents	26,198	50,311	$ 113,556	$ 10,127
Marketable securities	64,818	49,037
Inventory of manufactured homes	55,234	49,199
Notes and other receivables, net	174,934	160,077
Collateralized receivables, net	93,054	106,924
Other assets	226,177	176,162
Total Assets	7,397,854	6,710,026
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Investment property, net	6,184,173	5,586,444
Cash and cash equivalents	(12,506)	24,343
Marketable securities	64,818	49,037
Inventory of manufactured homes	17	0
Notes and other receivables, net	158,136	145,673
Collateralized receivables, net	93,054	106,924
Other assets	181,895	140,027
Total Assets	6,669,587	6,052,448
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Investment property, net	573,266	531,872
Cash and cash equivalents	38,704	25,968
Marketable securities	0	0
Inventory of manufactured homes	55,217	49,199
Notes and other receivables, net	16,798	14,404
Collateralized receivables, net	0	0
Other assets	44,282	36,135
Total Assets	$ 728,267	$ 657,578

Income Taxes , Narrative (Detai

Income Taxes , Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Minimum Percent of Income From Qualifying Sources to Allow For Real Estate Investment Trust Classification			9500.00%
Required Minimum Percent of Taxable Income Distributed to Stock Holders			9000.00%
Provision for state income taxes	$ 400	$ 213	$ 906	$ 612
Deferred tax benefit / (expense)	(349)	$ 199	(36)	$ 434
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	$ 20,700		$ 20,700
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross					$ 20,200

Earnings Per Share , Calculatio

Earnings Per Share , Calculation of Numerator and Denominator (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Numerator
Net Income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	$ 57,002	$ 46,060	$ 131,718	$ 96,454
Less allocation to restricted stock awards	(437)	(396)	(1,020)	(830)
Basic earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards	56,565	45,664	130,698	95,624
Add allocation to restricted stock awards	437	396	1,020	0
Diluted earnings - Net income attributable to common stockholders after allocation to restricted stock awards	$ 57,002	$ 46,060	$ 131,718	$ 95,624
Denominator
Weighted average common shares outstanding	89,847	81,599	87,499	80,022
Add: dilutive stock options	1	2	1	2
Add: dilutive restricted stock	484	480	431	0
Diluted weighted average common shares and securities	90,332	82,081	87,931	80,024
Basic earnings per share (see Note 14)	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 1.49	$ 1.19
Diluted earnings per share (see Note 14)	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 1.50	$ 1.19

Earnings Per Share , Antidiluti

Earnings Per Share , Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Loss Per Share (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	6,179	6,172
Common OP Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	2,282	2,729
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	316	332
Series D Preferred OP Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	489	0
Series A-3 Preferred OP Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	40	40
Series A-4 preferred OP units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	406	410
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,052	1,063
Series C preferred OP units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	310	314
Aspen Preferred OP Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,284	1,284

Fair Value of Financial Instr_3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments , By Balance Sheet Grouping (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payments to acquire marketable securities	$ 54,000
Financial assets
Notes and other receivables, net		$ 174,934	$ 160,077
Collateralized receivables, net		93,054	106,924
Notes Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure		30,186	0
Financial liabilities
Secured debt		2,967,128	2,815,957
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Financial liabilities
Debt (excluding secured borrowings)		3,037,040	2,888,572
Lines of credit		140,632	128,000
Other liabilities (contingent consideration)		6,052	4,640
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure		3,277,393	3,128,943
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Financial Assets Fair Value Disclosure		288,489	268,759
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member]
Financial assets
Notes and other receivables, net			112,798
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Notes and other receivables, net		100,431
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Collateralized Receivables [Member]
Financial assets
Notes and other receivables, net		93,100	106,900
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Collateralized Receivables [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Collateralized receivables, net		93,054	106,924
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Financial liabilities
Secured debt		93,669	107,731
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Financial Assets Fair Value Disclosure		288,489	268,759
Financial liabilities
Debt (excluding secured borrowings)		3,099,392	2,757,649
Secured debt		93,669	107,731
Lines of credit		140,632	128,000
Other liabilities (contingent consideration)		6,052	4,640
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure		3,339,745	2,998,020
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Installment notes receivable on manufactured homes, net [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Notes and other receivables, net		100,431	112,798
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Collateralized Receivables [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Collateralized receivables, net		93,054	106,924
Marketable Securities [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Marketable securities		64,818	49,037
Marketable Securities [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Financial assets
Marketable securities		$ 64,818	$ 49,037

Recent Accounting Pronounceme_3

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 26,198	$ 50,311	$ 113,556	$ 10,127
Restricted cash	15,528	11,951	15,538	13,382
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 41,726	$ 62,262	$ 129,094	$ 23,509

Leases - Future Minimum Lease P

Leases - Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Leases
2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019)	$ 712
2020	2,397
2021	2,446
2022	2,483
2023	2,572
Thereafter	35,185
Total lease payments	45,795
Less: Imputed interest	(21,121)
Present value of lease liabilities	24,674
Finance Leases
2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019)	97
2020	120
2021	120
2022	120
2023	120
Thereafter	4,060
Total lease payments	4,637
Less: Imputed interest	(485)
Present value of lease liabilities	4,152	$ 4,100
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Undiscounted Excess Amount	(21,606)
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payment, Due	50,432
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Due after Year Five	39,245
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Due Year Five	2,692
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Due Year Four	2,603
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Due Year Three	2,566
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Due Year Two	2,517
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability, Payments, Remainder of Fiscal Year	809
Operating And Finance Leases, Liability	$ 28,826

Leases - Additional Information

Leases - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)ft²$ / sqft	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease liability	$ 24,674
Finance lease liability	4,152	$ 4,100
Operating lease, not yet commenced	$ 2,900
Term of operating lease not yet commenced	7 years		7 years
CEO | American Center
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	28.10%
Area of rentable real estate property | ft²	103,100
Gross base rent (USD per sqft) | $ / sqft	18.55

Leases - Lease Expense (Details

Leases - Lease Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Amortization Expense			$ 18			$ 55
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Interest Expense			26			78
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net			845			2,468
Amortization of right - of-use assets	$ 18				$ 55
Interest on lease liabilities	26				77
Operating lease cost	$ 794				2,598
Total lease expense		$ 1,306	1,077	$ 3,944		3,234
Operating cash flow used for operating leases					1,504	2,556
Financing cash flow used for finance leases					23	23
Right of use asset obtained (land) in exchange for new finance lease liabilities					4,152
Capital Leased Assets, Gross							$ 4,098
Right of use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities					24,197
Right of use asset obtained relative to below market operating leases					$ 28,554
Amortization of above and below Market Leases							29,118
Weighted - average remaining lease term - finance leases (in years)	4 years 9 months				4 years 9 months
Weighted - average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	26 years 10 months 24 days				26 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted - average discount rate - finance leases (annual)	2.50%				2.50%
Weighted - average discount rate - operating leases (annual)	4.03%				4.03%
Present value of lease liabilities	$ 4,152				$ 4,152		4,100
Capital Lease Obligations							$ 4,098
Present value of lease liabilities	24,674				24,674
Operating And Finance Lease, Payments					1,527	2,579
Below Market Leases
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Amortization			$ 188			$ 633
Variable lease expense	$ 468				$ 1,214

Subsequent Event (Details)

Subsequent Event (Details)	Dec. 13, 2019$ / sharesshares	Jun. 30, 2019shares	Mar. 31, 2019shares	Sep. 30, 2018shares	Jun. 30, 2018shares	Sep. 30, 2019site$ / sharesshares	Sep. 30, 2018shares	Aug. 22, 2019site	Dec. 31, 2018site
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sites | site						4,825			4,882
Jensen Property Acquisition [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sites | site								5,230
Series A-4 preferred OP units
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion of units						4,708	13,765
Series A-4 preferred OP units | Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion of units	405,656
Series A-4 preferred OP units | Common OP Units
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion Rate						444.4000
Conversion of units						2,092	6,116
Series A-4 preferred OP units | Common OP Units | Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion Rate	0.4444
Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion of units						11,288	22,576
Series A-4 Preferred Stock | Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion of units	1,051,501
Series A-4 Preferred Stock | Common OP Units
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion Rate						444.4000
Conversion of units						5,016	10,033
Series A-4 Preferred Stock | Common OP Units | Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion Rate	0.4444
Common Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Conversion of units		5,000	0	1,000	0
Share Price | $ / shares						$ 115.39
Common Stock | Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Share Price | $ / shares	$ 64.97

Uncategorized Items - sui201909

Label	Element	Value
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Escrow	sui_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationEscrow	$ 0
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration, Value Of Shares Issued	sui_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationValueOfSharesIssued	$ 0