Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
REVENUES
Income from real property	$ 79,065	$ 64,296
Revenue from home sales	12,856	9,613
Rental home revenue	7,656	6,291
Ancillary revenues, net	643	263
Interest	2,963	2,405
Other income, net	196	260
Revenues	103,379	83,128
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Property operating and maintenance	19,946	16,026
Real estate taxes	5,756	4,872
Cost of home sales	9,816	7,773
Rental home operating and maintenance	4,292	3,824
General and administrative - real property	6,790	5,058
General and administrative - home sales and rentals	2,872	2,209
Acquisition related costs	1,042	164
Depreciation and amortization	25,262	19,868
Interest	18,864	16,797
Interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	809	841
Total expenses	95,449	77,432
Income (loss) before income taxes and distributions from affiliates	7,930	5,696
Provision for state income taxes	(59)	(53)
Distributions from affiliates	400	750
Net income (loss)	8,271	6,393
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	410	437
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	5,744	5,377
Less: Series A Preferred Stock Distributions	1,514	0
Net income (Loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	7,258	5,377
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	30,774	25,587
Diluted	30,789	25,605
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.19	$ 0.21
Diluted	$ 0.19	$ 0.21
Dividends per common share:	$ 0.63	$ 0.63
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Less: Preferred return to A-1 preferred OP units	573	579
Series A-3 Preferred OP Units [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Less: Preferred return to A-1 preferred OP units	$ 30	$ 0