Reportable Segments- Income from Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Community base rental income	$ 117,164	$ 110,908	$ 346,625	$ 330,251
Resort base rental income	54,486	49,765	154,652	142,837
Right-to-use annual payments	11,349	11,334	33,590	33,260
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,672	3,889	9,290	10,264
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(1,327)	(1,701)	(2,427)	(3,929)
Utility and other income	21,174	20,027	61,490	58,010
Gross revenue from home sales	10,895	7,878	28,239	24,341
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	920	1,051	2,736	4,045
Rental home income	3,484	3,413	10,572	10,526
Total revenues	226,165	210,144	656,393	620,038
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	73,410	69,227	203,011	194,522
Real estate taxes	13,467	12,923	39,534	38,169
Sales and marketing, gross	3,100	3,105	8,524	9,139
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(200)	(464)	(212)	(1,471)
Property management	11,863	11,361	35,670	33,750
Cost of home sales	10,745	7,868	28,507	23,685
Home selling expenses	909	861	2,548	2,386
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,768	1,874	4,874	5,232
Total expenses	179,904	169,920	513,784	512,899
Income from property operations segment	46,261	40,224	142,609	107,139
Property Operations
Revenues:
Community base rental income	117,164	110,908	346,625	330,251
Resort base rental income	54,486	49,765	154,652	142,837
Right-to-use annual payments	11,349	11,334	33,590	33,260
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	3,672	3,889	9,290	10,264
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(1,327)	(1,701)	(2,427)	(3,929)
Utility and other income	21,174	20,027	61,490	58,010
Ancillary services revenues, net	644	761	1,852	3,104
Total revenues	207,162	194,983	605,072	573,797
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	73,410	69,227	203,011	194,522
Real estate taxes	13,467	12,923	39,534	38,169
Sales and marketing, gross	3,100	3,105	8,524	9,139
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(200)	(464)	(212)	(1,471)
Property management	11,863	11,361	35,670	33,750
Total expenses	101,640	96,152	286,527	274,109
Income from property operations segment	105,522	98,831	318,545	299,688
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Revenues:
Gross revenue from home sales	10,895	7,878	28,239	24,341
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	276	290	884	941
Rental home income	3,484	3,413	10,572	10,526
Total revenues	14,655	11,581	39,695	35,808
Expenses:
Cost of home sales	10,745	7,868	28,507	23,685
Home selling expenses	909	861	2,548	2,386
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,768	1,874	4,874	5,232
Total expenses	13,422	10,603	35,929	31,303
Income from property operations segment	$ 1,233	$ 978	$ 3,766	$ 4,505