Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Land	$ 1,027,976	$ 451,340
Land improvements and buildings	4,825,043	3,535,909
Rental homes and improvements	489,633	460,480
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment	130,127	102,746
Land held for future development	23,560	23,047
Investment property	6,496,339	4,573,522
Accumulated depreciation	1,026,858	852,407
Investment property, net (including $92,009 and $94,230 for consolidated variable interest entities at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; see Note 7)	5,469,481	3,721,115
Cash and cash equivalents	8,164	45,086
Inventory of manufactured homes	21,632	14,828
Notes and other receivables, net	81,179	47,972
Collateralized receivables, net	143,870	139,768
Other assets, net	146,450	213,030
TOTAL ASSETS	5,870,776	4,181,799
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (including $64,082 and $65,849 for consolidated variable interest entities at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; see Note 7)	2,819,567	2,125,267
Secured borrowings on collateralized receivables	144,477	140,440
Preferred OP units - mandatorily redeemable	45,903	45,903
Lines of credit	100,095	24,687
Distributions payable	51,896	41,265
Other liabilities (including $4,091 and $1,139 for consolidated variable interest entities at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; see Note 7)	279,667	184,859
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,441,605	2,562,421
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Issued and outstanding: 3,400 shares at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	34	34
Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized: 180,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: 58,395 shares at December 31, 2015 and 48,573 shares at December 31, 2014	732	584
Additional paid-in capital	3,321,441	2,319,314
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(3,181)	0
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(1,023,415)	(864,122)
Total Sun Communities, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,295,611	1,455,810
Noncontrolling interests:
Common and preferred OP units	69,598
Consolidated variable interest entities	(2,982)	(1,767)
Total noncontrolling interests	66,616	80,771
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)	2,362,227	1,536,581
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)	5,870,776	4,181,799
Series A-4 Preferred Stock [Member]
LIABILITIES
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	50,227	61,732
Series A-4 Preferred Op Units [Member]
LIABILITIES
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	$ 16,717	21,065
Noncontrolling interests:
Common and preferred OP units		$ 82,538