Real Estate Acquisitions and Dispositions Real Estate Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) sites	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) sites	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) sites	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property					117,376
Gain on disposition of properties, net | $	$ 98,430	$ 18,190	$ (13)	$ 8,769	$ 0	$ 125,376	$ 17,654
Escrow Deposit | $	$ 126,300					$ 126,300
Manufactured home community [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property					80,166
Number of Real Estate Properties Sold						17
Manufactured Home And Rv Community [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties Sold						3
Silver Star [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	406,000					406,000
Holiday Village [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	326					326
Maplewood Mobile [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	207,000					207,000
Meadows [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	330					330
Valley Brook [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	798,000					798,000
West Glen Village [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	552					552
Woods Edge [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	598,000					598,000
Edwardsville [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	634					634
Candlewick Court [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	211,000					211,000
College Park Estates [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	230					230
Sherman Oaks [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	366,000					366,000
Village Trails [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	100					100
Creekside [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	45,000					45,000
Colonial Village [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	153					153
Valley View [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	197,000					197,000
Catalina [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	462,000					462,000
Worthington Arms [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	224,000					224,000
Casa Del Valle [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	381,000					381,000
Kenwood [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	280,000					280,000
Snow to Sun [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	475,000					475,000