Reportable Segments- Income from Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Community base rental income	$ 115,385	$ 110,073	$ 229,461	$ 219,343
Resort base rental income	44,732	41,427	100,166	93,072
Right-to-use annual payments	11,187	10,945	22,241	21,926
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,086	3,578	5,618	6,375
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(798)	(1,455)	(1,100)	(2,228)
Utility and other income	19,523	18,901	40,316	37,983
Gross revenue from home sales	9,130	9,526	17,344	16,463
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	398	1,012	1,816	2,994
Rental home income	3,543	3,559	7,088	7,113
Total revenues	210,081	201,480	430,228	409,894
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	66,647	64,178	129,601	125,295
Real estate taxes	12,869	12,652	26,067	25,246
Sales and marketing, gross	2,931	3,512	5,424	6,034
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(116)	(764)	(12)	(1,007)
Property management	12,044	11,099	23,807	22,389
Cost of home sales	9,481	9,093	17,762	15,817
Home selling expenses	805	720	1,639	1,525
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,581	1,689	3,106	3,358
Total expenses	170,042	165,494	333,880	342,979
Income from property operations segment	40,039	35,986	96,348	66,915
Operating Segments | Property Operations
Revenues:
Community base rental income	115,385	110,073	229,461	219,343
Resort base rental income	44,732	41,427	100,166	93,072
Right-to-use annual payments	11,187	10,945	22,241	21,926
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,086	3,578	5,618	6,375
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(798)	(1,455)	(1,100)	(2,228)
Utility and other income	19,523	18,901	40,316	37,983
Ancillary services revenues, net	69	656	1,208	2,343
Total revenues	193,184	184,125	397,910	378,814
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	66,647	64,178	129,601	125,295
Real estate taxes	12,869	12,652	26,067	25,246
Sales and marketing, gross	2,931	3,512	5,424	6,034
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(116)	(764)	(12)	(1,007)
Property management	12,044	11,099	23,807	22,389
Total expenses	94,375	90,677	184,887	177,957
Income from property operations segment	98,809	93,448	213,023	200,857
Operating Segments | Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Revenues:
Gross revenue from home sales	9,130	9,526	17,344	16,463
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	329	356	608	651
Rental home income	3,543	3,559	7,088	7,113
Total revenues	13,002	13,441	25,040	24,227
Expenses:
Cost of home sales	9,481	9,093	17,762	15,817
Home selling expenses	805	720	1,639	1,525
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,581	1,689	3,106	3,358
Total expenses	11,867	11,502	22,507	20,700
Income from property operations segment	$ 1,135	$ 1,939	$ 2,533	$ 3,527