Fair Value - Carrying Value and Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net	$ 39,407	$ 51,636
Asset-backed securitization
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net	37,300	48,400
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net	$ 2,100	3,300
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit | LIBOR
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	1.35%
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit | LIBOR | Minimum
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	0.90%
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit | LIBOR | Maximum
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	1.75%
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit | Base Rate | Minimum
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	0.00%
Term Loan facility | Line of Credit | Base Rate | Maximum
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	0.75%
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	$ 2,018,764	2,491,234
Exchangeable senior notes, net	110,771	108,148
Secured note payable	49,107	49,828
Term loan facility	200,000	325,000
Total debt	2,378,642	2,974,210
Carrying Value | 2014-SFR 1
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	0	456,074
Carrying Value | 2014-SFR 2
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	497,743	501,810
Carrying Value | 2014-SFR 3
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	513,361	517,827
Carrying Value | 2015-SFR 1
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	539,199	543,480
Carrying Value | 2015-SFR 2
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	468,461	472,043
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	2,054,519	2,544,423
Exchangeable senior notes, net	143,297	142,808
Secured note payable	49,383	50,053
Term loan facility	200,000	325,000
Total debt	2,447,199	3,062,284
Fair Value | 2014-SFR 1 | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	0	465,343
Fair Value | 2014-SFR 2 | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	506,835	510,941
Fair Value | 2014-SFR 3 | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	523,653	530,549
Fair Value | 2015-SFR 1 | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	546,630	553,689
Fair Value | 2015-SFR 2 | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Asset-backed securitization	$ 477,401	$ 483,901