Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Total Aimco Equity	Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships	Common Noncontrolling Interests In Aimco Operating Partnership
Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,655,753	$ 125,000	$ 1,524	$ 3,900,090	$ 3,603	$ (2,367,073)	$ 1,663,144	$ (1,716)	$ (5,675)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		5,000	152,435
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	50,151								50,151
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(7,611)								(7,611)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	5,261			4,481			4,481		780
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			21
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities	(10,102)			(17,385)			(17,385)		7,283
Other, net	122		$ 2	122		(2)	122
Other, net (in shares)			136
Net income	98,975					88,829	88,829	6,251	3,895
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(417)				(395)		(395)		(22)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(119,558)					(119,558)	(119,558)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(4,297)					(4,297)	(4,297)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13,492)							(7,519)	(5,973)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2018	1,654,785	$ 125,000	$ 1,526	3,887,308	3,208	(2,402,101)	1,614,941	(2,984)	42,828
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		5,000	152,592
Balances at Mar. 31, 2018	1,662,647	$ 125,000	$ 1,525	3,885,327	3,544	(2,345,206)	1,670,190	(2,755)	(4,788)
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		5,000	152,568
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	50,151								50,151
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(648)								(648)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	2,273			1,850			1,850		423
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			2
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities	805			101			101		704
Other, net	29		$ 1	30		(2)	29
Other, net (in shares)			22
Net income	5,222					5,037	5,037	45	140
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(355)				(336)		(336)		(19)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(59,781)					(59,781)	(59,781)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(2,149)					(2,149)	(2,149)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,409)							(274)	(3,135)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2018	1,654,785	$ 125,000	$ 1,526	3,887,308	3,208	(2,402,101)	1,614,941	(2,984)	42,828
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		5,000	152,592
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	1,763,641	$ 125,000	$ 1,446	3,515,686	4,794	(1,947,507)	1,699,419	(2,967)	67,189
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		5,000	144,623
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common Stock	(20,682)		$ (5)	(20,677)			(20,682)
Repurchases of Common Stock (in shares)			(461)
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(125,000)	$ (125,000)		4,089		(4,089)	(125,000)
Redemption of Preferred Stock (in shares)		(5,000)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	3,034								3,034
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(4,132)		$ 1	3,422			3,423		(7,555)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units (in shares)			70
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	5,224			3,632			3,632		1,592
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			22
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(7,019)			(7,019)	1,042	5,977
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships	(917)							(917)
Other, net	77		$ 1	57			58	19
Other, net (in shares)			81
Net income	357,424					338,592	338,592	161	18,671
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	77				72		72		5
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(125,514)					(125,514)	(125,514)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend	(516)		$ 45	(561)			(516)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend (in shares)			4,492
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(3,247)					(3,247)	(3,247)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,603)							(56)	(6,547)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	1,842,866		$ 1,488	3,498,629	4,866	(1,741,765)	1,763,218	(2,718)	82,366
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			148,827
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	1,960,272	$ 125,000	$ 1,488	3,495,295	4,851	(1,742,998)	1,883,636	(2,857)	79,493
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		5,000	148,758
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(125,000)	$ (125,000)		4,089		(4,089)	(125,000)
Redemption of Preferred Stock (in shares)		(5,000)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	3,034								3,034
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(1,575)		$ 1	3,422			3,423		(4,998)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units (in shares)			70
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	1,986			1,190			1,190		796
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(4,851)			(4,851)	1,042	3,809
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships	(917)							(917)
Other, net	(1)		$ (1)				(1)
Other, net (in shares)			(1)
Net income	68,063					64,459	64,459	70	3,534
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	16				15		15		1
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(58,039)					(58,039)	(58,039)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend	(516)			(516)			(516)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(1,098)					(1,098)	(1,098)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,359)							(56)	(3,303)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 1,842,866		$ 1,488	$ 3,498,629	$ 4,866	$ (1,741,765)	$ 1,763,218	$ (2,718)	$ 82,366
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			148,827