Reportable Segments- Income from Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Community base rental income	$ 110,073	$ 106,502	$ 219,343	$ 212,547
Resort base rental income	41,427	36,888	93,072	81,837
Right-to-use annual payments	10,945	11,241	21,926	22,455
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,578	3,263	6,375	6,344
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(1,455)	(1,168)	(2,228)	(2,315)
Utility and other income	18,901	16,919	37,983	34,490
Gross revenue from home sales	9,526	6,560	16,463	11,738
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	1,012	568	2,994	2,367
Rental home income	3,559	3,746	7,113	7,503
Total revenues	201,480	189,025	409,894	385,770
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	64,178	61,217	125,295	119,913
Real estate taxes	12,652	12,157	25,246	24,642
Sales and marketing, gross	3,512	2,869	6,034	5,432
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(764)	(710)	(1,007)	(1,265)
Property management	11,099	10,451	22,389	21,083
Cost of home sales	9,093	6,155	15,817	11,523
Home selling expenses	720	628	1,525	1,197
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,689	1,639	3,358	3,547
Total expenses	165,494	159,629	342,979	314,371
Income from property operations segment	35,986	29,396	66,915	71,399
Property Operations
Revenues:
Community base rental income	110,073	106,502	219,343	212,547
Resort base rental income	41,427	36,888	93,072	81,837
Right-to-use annual payments	10,945	11,241	21,926	22,455
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,578	3,263	6,375	6,344
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(1,455)	(1,168)	(2,228)	(2,315)
Utility and other income	18,901	16,919	37,983	34,490
Ancillary services revenues, net	656	283	2,343	1,787
Total revenues	184,125	173,928	378,814	357,145
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	64,178	61,217	125,295	119,913
Real estate taxes	12,652	12,157	25,246	24,642
Sales and marketing, gross	3,512	2,869	6,034	5,432
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(764)	(710)	(1,007)	(1,265)
Property management	11,099	10,451	22,389	21,083
Total expenses	90,677	85,984	177,957	169,805
Income from property operations segment	93,448	87,944	200,857	187,340
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Revenues:
Gross revenue from home sales	9,526	6,560	16,463	11,738
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	356	285	651	580
Rental home income	3,559	3,746	7,113	7,503
Total revenues	13,441	10,591	24,227	19,821
Expenses:
Cost of home sales	9,093	6,155	15,817	11,523
Home selling expenses	720	628	1,525	1,197
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,689	1,639	3,358	3,547
Total expenses	11,502	8,422	20,700	16,267
Income from property operations segment	$ 1,939	$ 2,169	$ 3,527	$ 3,554