Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Provision for real estate impairment losses	$ 0	$ 6,235,000	[1]	$ 0
Goodwill associated with reportable segments	49,000,000	49,000,000
Goodwill written off related to apartment communities sold or classified as held for sale	5,500,000	7,500,000		5,100,000
Useful life of capitalized software costs	5 years 0 months 0 days
Capitalized software purchase and development cost	3,300,000	5,800,000		12,600,000
Capitalized software net	22,000,000	27,500,000
Amortization of capitalized software	8,900,000	10,000,000		8,700,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	233,008,000	271,065,000
Noncontrolling interests in the Aimco Operating Partnership, weighted average ownership percentage by Noncontrolling Owners During Period	5.20%	5.70%		6.60%
Average term of operating leases with apartment residents	12 months
Period of time over which low income housing tax credits realized by investors	10 years
Typical compliance period related to low income housing tax credit arrangements	15 years
General partner interests in low income housing tax credit partnerships held by Aimco	one percent or less
Limited partner interests in low income housing tax credit partnerships held by unaffiliated investors	at least 99%
Percentage of income tax on arms length transactions	100.00%
Legally Sold Portfolio, Not Derecognized for Accounting Purposes [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	35,818,000	57,208,000
Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Goodwill associated with reportable segments		$ 5,500,000

[1] Proportionate property net operating income, our key measurement of segment profit or loss, excludes property management revenues (which are included in rental and other property revenues), property management expenses and casualty gains and losses (which are included in property operating expenses), depreciation and amortization and provision for real estate impairment losses. Accordingly, we do not allocate these amounts to our segments.