Reportable Segments- Income from Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Community base rental income	$ 114,076	$ 109,270
Resort base rental income	55,434	51,645
Right-to-use annual payments	11,054	10,981
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	2,532	2,797
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(302)	(773)
Utility and other income	20,793	19,082
Gross revenue from home sales	8,214	6,937
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	1,418	1,982
Rental home income	3,545	3,554
Total revenues	220,147	208,414
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	62,954	61,117
Real estate taxes	13,198	12,594
Sales and marketing, gross	2,493	2,522
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	104	(243)
Property management	11,763	11,290
Cost of home sales	8,281	6,724
Home selling expenses	834	805
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,525	1,669
Total expenses	163,838	177,485
Income from property operations segment	56,309	30,929
Property Operations
Revenues:
Community base rental income	114,076	109,270
Resort base rental income	55,434	51,645
Right-to-use annual payments	11,054	10,981
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	2,532	2,797
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(302)	(773)
Utility and other income	20,793	19,082
Ancillary services revenues, net	1,139	1,687
Total revenues	204,726	194,689
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	62,954	61,117
Real estate taxes	13,198	12,594
Sales and marketing, gross	2,493	2,522
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	104	(243)
Property management	11,763	11,290
Total expenses	90,512	87,280
Income from property operations segment	114,214	107,409
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Revenues:
Gross revenue from home sales	8,214	6,937
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	279	295
Rental home income	3,545	3,554
Total revenues	12,038	10,786
Expenses:
Cost of home sales	8,281	6,724
Home selling expenses	834	805
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,525	1,669
Total expenses	10,640	9,198
Income from property operations segment	$ 1,398	$ 1,588