Significant Transactions - (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Significant Transactions [Abstract]

Schedule of Business Acquisitions [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013
Number of apartment homes	1,182		134
Acquisition price	$	291,925	$	53,575
Non-recourse property debt assumed (outstanding principal balance)	65,200		12,446
Non-recourse property debt assumed (fair value)	64,817		14,767
Total fair value allocated to land	70,842		18,720
Total fair value allocated to buildings and improvements	217,431		37,176

Balance Sheets Related to Legally Sold Portfolio [Table Text Block]

The portfolio’s assets and liabilities included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets are summarized below (in thousands).

	December 31,
	2014			2013
Real estate, net	$	117,851		$	120,175
Cash and cash equivalents	23,133			22,602
Investment in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	8,392			10,817
Other assets	11,759			10,255
Total assets	$	161,135		$	163,849
Total indebtedness	$	113,641		$	106,032
Accrued and other liabilities	4,417			19,263
Total liabilities	118,058			125,295
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	44,106			35,818
Equity attributable to Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership	(1,029		)	2,736
Total liabilities and equity	$	161,135		$	163,849

Statement of Income Related to Legally Sold Portfolio [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013
Revenues	$	27,701		$	23,711
Expenses	(21,472		)	(21,188		)
Equity in earnings or loss of unconsolidated entities, gains or losses on dispositions and other, net	(6,996		)	(748		)
Net (loss) income related to legacy asset management business	(767		)	1,775
Income tax benefit (expense) associated with legacy asset management business	3			(639		)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(403		)	21,370
Net (loss) income of legacy asset management business attributable to Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership	$	(1,167	)	$	22,506

Schedule of Acquisitions of Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012
Consolidated partnerships in which remaining limited partnership interests were acquired	3		11
Number of apartment communities owned by partnerships	5		17
Cost of limited partnership interests acquired	$	17,900	$	50,654
Excess of consideration paid over the carrying amount of noncontrolling interests acquired	17,170		44,777