Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate, net	$ 5,580,271	$ 5,472,779
Cash and cash equivalents	45,241	28,971
Restricted cash	93,230	91,445
Other assets	478,961	476,727
Non-recourse property debt	3,807,699	4,022,809
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 324,746	$ 279,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,787,260	500,787,260
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	156,421,276	146,403,274
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	156,421,276	146,403,274
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Real estate, net	$ 5,580,271	$ 5,472,779
Cash and cash equivalents	45,241	28,971
Restricted cash	93,230	91,445
Other assets	478,961	476,727
Non-recourse property debt	3,807,699	4,022,809
Accrued liabilities and other	324,746	279,077
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, net	342,568	360,160
Cash and cash equivalents	19,944	17,108
Restricted cash	34,930	36,196
Other assets	170,046	182,108
Non-recourse property debt	327,403	336,471
Accrued liabilities and other	172,290	135,644
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Real estate, net	342,568	360,160
Cash and cash equivalents	19,944	17,108
Restricted cash	34,930	36,196
Other assets	170,046	182,108
Non-recourse property debt	327,403	336,471
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 172,290	$ 135,644