Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of income tax attributable to continuing and discontinued operations
Tax at U.S. statutory rates on consolidated income or loss subject to tax	$ 16,326		$ 6,642		$ 1,756
Tax at U.S. statutory rates on consolidated income or loss subject to tax, percentage	35.00%		35.00%		35.00%
State income tax expense (benefit), net of Federal tax (benefit) expense	1,748		1,859		(299)
State income tax expense (benefit), net of Federal tax (benefit), percentage	3.70%		9.80%		(6.00%)
Effect of permanent differences	296		256		565
Effect of permanent differences, percentage	(0.60%)		(1.30%)		(11.30%)
Tax effect of intercompany transfers of assets between the REIT and taxable REIT subsidiaries (1)	(4,272)	[1]	730	[1]	(1,965)	[1]
Tax effect of intercompany transfers of assets between the REIT and taxable REIT subsidiaries, percentage (1)	(9.20%)	[1]	3.80%	[1]	(39.20%)	[1]
Tax credits	(4,137)		0		0
Tax credits, percentage	(8.90%)		0.00%		0.00%
Increase in valuation allowance	0		0		522
Increase in valuation allowance, percentage	0.00%		0.00%		10.40%
Total expense (benefit)	$ 9,369		$ 8,975		$ (551)
Reconciliation of income tax, percentage	20.00%		47.30%		(11.10%)

[1] Includes the effect of assets contributed by the Aimco Operating Partnership to TRS entities, for which deferred tax expense or benefit was recognized upon the sale or impairment of the asset by the TRS entity.