Earnings per Share/Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,769	$ 18,186	$ 66,133	$ 48,169
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	0	126,329	130,474	262,483
Income from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,844)	(16,487)	(17,553)	(40,655)
Income attributable to preferred equity holders	(2,757)	(2,875)	(9,037)	(5,087)
Loss (income) attributable to participating securities	11	(447)	(690)	(962)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equity holders	19,179	124,706	169,327	263,948
Net income	23,769	144,515	196,607	310,652
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,844)	(16,487)	(17,553)	(40,655)
Net income attributable to preferred equity holders	(2,757)	(2,875)	(9,037)	(5,087)
Net loss (income) attributable to participating securities	11	(447)	(690)	(962)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 19,179	$ 124,706	$ 169,327	$ 263,948
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – basic (in shares)	155,639	145,672	154,994	145,601
Dilutive potential common shares/units (in shares)	369	432	418	323
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – diluted (in shares)	156,008	146,104	155,412	145,924
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.12	$ 0.86	$ 1.09	$ 1.81
Net Income	0.12	0.86	1.09	1.81
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share/unit)	0.12	0.85	1.09	1.81
Net income	$ 0.12	$ 0.85	$ 1.09	$ 1.81
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,769	$ 18,186	$ 66,133	$ 48,169
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	0	126,329	130,474	262,483
Income from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	785	(8,337)	(4,082)	(21,952)
Income attributable to preferred equity holders	(4,493)	(4,476)	(14,245)	(9,895)
Loss (income) attributable to participating securities	11	(447)	(690)	(962)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equity holders	20,072	131,255	177,590	277,843
Net income	23,769	144,515	196,607	310,652
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	785	(8,337)	(4,082)	(21,952)
Net income attributable to preferred equity holders	(4,493)	(4,476)	(14,245)	(9,895)
Net loss (income) attributable to participating securities	11	(447)	(690)	(962)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 20,072	$ 131,255	$ 177,590	$ 277,843
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – basic (in shares)	163,241	153,337	162,616	153,326
Dilutive potential common shares/units (in shares)	369	432	418	323
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – diluted (in shares)	163,610	153,769	163,034	153,649
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.12	$ 0.86	$ 1.09	$ 1.81
Net Income	0.12	0.86	1.09	1.81
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share/unit)	0.12	0.85	1.09	1.81
Net income	$ 0.12	$ 0.85	$ 1.09	$ 1.81