Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narrative - Line of Credit (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended					1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Line of Credit - Bank of America [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Line of Credit - Bank of America [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Line of Credit - Bank of America [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Line of Credit - Bank of America [Member]	May 31, 2010 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - rental home portfolio [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - rental home portfolio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - rental home portfolio [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Prime Rate [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - rental home portfolio [Member]	May 31, 2010 Prime Rate [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - rental home portfolio [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Prime Rate [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Prime Rate [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Line of credit - manufactured home floor plan facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity			$ 130,000,000			$ 115,000,000	$ 20,000,000					$ 12,000,000
Line of credit facility, additional borrowing capacity			20,000,000
Line of credit, outstanding balance				0	107,500,000			0	16,000,000		6,000,000	5,500,000
Rental properties net book value	263,549,000	246,245,000
Line of credit, remaining borrowing capacity				126,000,000	18,500,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount				$ 4,000,000	$ 4,000,000
Line of credit, outstanding loan balance, percent							200.00%
Effective interest rate, minimum				2.25%
Effective interest rate, maximum				2.95%											6.00%
Weighted average interest rate	5.30%	5.30%											5.50%			7.00%
Line of credit, option to extend term			1 year
Debt weighted average to maturity, length	7 years 1 month	7 years 4 months
Line of Credit Facility, Interest only payment term							5 years
Line of credit facility, committed term										12 months
Facility lease termination notice, term										5 years
Basis points				2.50%										2.00%	1.00%