Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 79,072	$ 49,628
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	14,705	12,653
Amortization	226	238
Straight-line rental income	(4,408)	(2,325)
Write-off of debt issuance costs	353	0
Loan and realty (recoveries) losses, net	1,976	2,300
Loan and realty (recoveries) losses, net	(1,976)	(2,300)
Gain on sale of real estate	(19,370)	0
Net realized gains on sales of marketable securities	0	30
Share-based compensation	2,086	1,924
Income from equity-method investee	(269)	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Equity-method investment and other assets	(307)	358
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	498	(712)
Deferred income	(149)	(299)
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,413	63,735
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in mortgage and other notes receivable	(9,713)	(5,797)
Collection of mortgage and other notes receivable	18,879	2,844
Investment in real estate	(134,074)	(77,740)
Investment in real estate development	7,883	0
Investment in renovations of existing real estate	5,323	0
Investment in unconsolidated entity	0	(8,309)
Real estate purchase deposit	0	(3,000)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate properties	20,981	0
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities	0	125
Net cash used in investing activities	(117,133)	(91,877)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	127,000	(42,300)
Borrowings on term loan	80,000	120,000
Repayment of term loan	(80,000)	0
Debt issuance costs	(1,275)	(753)
Principal payments on term loan	(19,399)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	(146)	2
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(818)	0
Dividends paid to stockholders	(64,656)	(60,279)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	40,998	16,666
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,722)	(11,476)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	9,172	15,886
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	7,450	4,410
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest Paid	5,225	2,214
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Settlement of mortgage note by real estate acquisition	13,741	0
Conditional consideration in asset acquisition	1,600	0
Accounts payable increase due to investments in real estate	3,453	0
Assumption of debt in real estate acquisition	80,528	19,250
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge	722	(1,343)
Assignment of net assets in equity-method investee	$ 817	$ 0