Acquisitions - 2015 & 2014 Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) single_family_property	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) single_family_property	Dec. 31, 2014 single_family_property property	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) single_family_property	Dec. 31, 2014 property	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration				$ 0	$ 0	$ 74,356
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Secured note payable				$ (49,828)	$ (50,752)
RJ Joint Ventures
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired of membership interests		67.00%
Number of properties acquired | single_family_property		377
Purchase price		$ 44,400
Ellington portfolio acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired of membership interests									100.00%
Number of properties acquired	914		914			914	914
Purchase price	$ 126,000
Cash consideration	$ 74,400
Number of properties treated as collateral	583		583
Interest rate									4.06%
Debt instrument term	5 years
Percentage of properties leased as of acquisition date									96.30%
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Land								$ 25,615
Buildings and improvements								98,117
In-place leases								2,268
Secured note payable								(51,644)
Net assets acquired								$ 74,356