Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Community Base Rental Income	$ 409,801,000	$ 394,606,000	$ 309,230,000
Resort base rental income	147,234,000	134,327,000	130,489,000
Right-to-use annual payments	47,967,000	47,662,000	49,122,000
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	13,142,000	13,433,000	17,856,000
Right-to-use contracts, deferred, net of prior period amortization	(5,694,000)	(6,694,000)	(11,936,000)
Utility and other income	63,800,000	62,470,000	53,116,000
Gross revenues from home sales	17,871,000	8,230,000	6,028,000
Brokered resale revenues, net	4,212,000	3,093,000	3,483,000
Interest income	8,260,000	8,135,000	5,924,000
Income from other investments, net	7,515,000	6,795,000	6,452,000
Total revenues	728,375,000	683,706,000	577,009,000
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	229,897,000	220,415,000	197,781,000
Real estate taxes	48,279,000	45,590,000	36,528,000
Sales and marketing, gross	12,836,000	10,845,000	11,218,000
Sales and marketing, deferred commissions, net	(2,410,000)	(3,155,000)	(4,789,000)
Property management	40,193,000	37,999,000	34,846,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets for Continuing Operations	1,940,000	39,467,000	23,126,000
Cost of home sales	17,296,000	9,018,000	5,615,000
Home selling expenses	2,085,000	1,391,000	1,591,000
General and administrative	28,211,000	26,388,000	42,046,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	37,844,000	0	0
Interest and related amortization	118,522,000	123,992,000	99,489,000
Total expenses	653,167,000	621,858,000	537,000,000
Income before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	75,208,000	61,848,000	40,009,000
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	2,039,000	1,899,000	1,948,000
Consolidated income from continuing operations	77,247,000	63,747,000	41,957,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	7,133,000	6,116,000	547,000
Discontinued Operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued real estate	41,525,000	4,596,000	0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	48,658,000	10,712,000	547,000
Consolidated net income	125,905,000	74,459,000	42,504,000
Adjustment for fair market value of swap	1,663,000	(43,000)	(2,547,000)
Consolidated comprehensive income (loss)	127,568,000	74,416,000	39,957,000
Comprehensive (income) loss allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units	108,443,000	54,742,000	20,467,000
Income allocated to non-controlling interests-Common OP Units	(9,706,000)	(5,067,000)	(3,105,000)
Net income available for Common Shares	125,905,000	59,846,000	26,346,000
Earnings per Common Share-Basic:
Net income available for Common Shares	$ 1.29	$ 0.67	$ 0.32
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ 0.75	$ 0.55	$ 0.31
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ 0.54	$ 0.12	$ 0.01
Earnings per Common Share-Fully Diluted:
Net income available for Common Shares	$ 1.28	$ 0.66	$ 0.32
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ 0.75	$ 0.54	$ 0.31
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ 0.53	$ 0.12	$ 0.01
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding-basic	83,018	82,348	71,182
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding-fully diluted	91,196	90,862	80,660
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(9,280,000)	(14,613,000)	(13,823,000)
Net income available for Common Shares-basic	106,919,000	54,779,000	22,775,000
Rental home income	14,267,000	11,649,000	7,245,000
Rental home operating and maintenance	7,474,000	6,369,000	4,493,000
Real Estate Depreciation Expense and Rental Homes	108,229,000	102,083,000	83,013,000
Rent control initiatives and other	2,771,000	1,456,000	2,043,000
Cumulative Series Eight Point Zero Three Four Percent Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Earnings per Common Share-Fully Diluted:
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	0	(11,704,000)	(13,357,000)
Series B Subordinated Non-Voting Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Earnings per Common Share-Fully Diluted:
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	0	0	(466,000)
Cumulative Series C Six Point Seven Five Percent Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Earnings per Common Share-Fully Diluted:
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(9,280,000)	(2,909,000)	0
Noncontrolling Interest Of Common Units [Member]
Discontinued Operations:
Comprehensive (income) loss allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units	(9,845,000)	(5,061,000)	(2,866,000)
Noncontrolling Interest Of Preferred Units [Member]
Discontinued Operations:
Comprehensive (income) loss allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units	0	0	(2,801,000)
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Preferred Unit Holders, Redeemable	$ 0	$ 0	$ (2,801,000)