Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 6,393	$ 2,585
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain from land disposition	(65)	0
Gain on valuation of derivative instruments	(3)	(4)
Stock compensation expense	345	215
Depreciation and amortization	19,573	16,345
Amortization of deferred financing costs	437	453
Distributions from affiliates	(750)	(350)
Change in notes receivable from financed sales of inventory homes, net of repayments	(2,078)	(1,231)
Change in inventory, other assets and other receivables, net	4,316	(1,673)
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(7,116)	(23)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	21,052	16,317
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in properties	(28,966)	(15,200)
Acquisitions	(24,482)	0
Proceeds related to affiliate dividend distribution	750	350
Proceeds related to disposition of land	88	0
Proceeds related to disposition of assets and depreciated homes, net	543	405
Reduction of notes receivable, net	327	352
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(51,740)	(14,093)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance and associated costs of common stock, OP units, and preferred OP units, net	157,461	29,799
Net proceeds from stock option exercise	149	45
Distributions to stockholders, OP unit holders, and preferred OP unit holders	(15,626)	(14,435)
Borrowings on lines of credit	25,375	11,919
Payments on lines of credit	(148,425)	(43,557)
Proceeds from issuance of other debt	33,959	119,779
Payments on other debt	(11,549)	(107,888)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(538)	(1,449)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	40,806	(5,787)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,118	(3,563)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	5,857	8,420
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	15,975	4,857
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	15,010	12,893
Cash paid for interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	841	828
Cash paid for state income taxes	90	65
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	256	403
Reduction in secured borrowing balance	3,030	2,537
Receivable for issuance of stock	0	2,092
Change in dividends declared and outstanding	2,934	0
Noncash investing and financing activities at the date of acquisition:
Acquisitions - debt assumed	$ 52,398