Organization (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011 PartnershipUnit Property Market	Dec. 31, 2010
Organization (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of largest markets in United States	20
Number of units for which asset or property management services were provided	11,233
Number of properties for which asset or property management services were provided	159
Aimco's ownership interest in AIMCO Properties, L.P.	94.00%
Shares of common stock outstanding	120,916,144	117,642,872
Common OP units and equivalents of the Aimco Operating Partnership	8,289,841
Total shares of common stock and common OP units outstanding	129,205,985
Number of properties from which the company has resigned from providing property management services	100
Number of units from which the company has resigned from providing property management services	11,400
Conventional property asset quality based on average rents of units compared to local market average rents	A-quality assets earning rents greater than 125% of local market average, B-quality assets earning rents 90% to 125% of local market average and C-quality assets earning rents less than 90% of local market average. We classify as B/B+ those assets earning rents ranging from 100% to 125% of local market average
Conventional [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned real estate properties in segments	205
Number of units in owned real estate properties in segments	64,781
Number of consolidated properties	199
Number of units in consolidated real estate properties	63,335
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	87.00%
Affordable [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned real estate properties in segments	201
Number of units in owned real estate properties in segments	24,040
Number of consolidated properties	160
Number of units in consolidated real estate properties	19,969
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	13.00%

Common Op units and equivalents of operating partnership.

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Conventional property asset quality based on average rents of units compared to local market average rents.

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Number of consolidated properties.

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Number of largest markets in which Aimco's properties are concentrated.

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Number of properties for which asset or property management services were provided.

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Number of Properties From Which Company Has Resigned From Providing Property Management Services.

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Number of units for which asset or property management services were provided.

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Number of Units From Which Company Has Resigned from Providing Property Management Services.

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Number of units in real estate properties consolidated by the Company.

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Organization.

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Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment.

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Total shares of common stock and common OP units outstanding.

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Total number of shares of common stock held by shareholders. May be all or portion of the number of common shares authorized. These shares represent the ownership interest of the common shareholders. Shares outstanding equals shares issued minus shares held in treasury and other adjustments, if any.

+ References

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The number of units or percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the LLC or LP.

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The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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