Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 237,825		$ 195,361		$ (58,164)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	291,910	[1]	325,173	[1]	323,233	[1]
Provision for real estate impairment losses	0		6,235	[1]	0
Equity in (income) losses of unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(926)		4,408		17,721
Gain on dispositions of unconsolidated real estate and other, net	(1,797)		(21,886)		(2,403)
Income tax benefit	(1,959)		(858)		(5,941)
Share-based compensation expense	5,645		4,871		5,381
Amortization of deferred loan costs and other	4,915		5,044		5,696
Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization	16,372		41,577		72,099
Gain on disposition of real estate	(212,459)		(234,530)		(108,203)
Other adjustments to income from discontinued operations	10,019		27,854		27,088
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	4,592		30,716		8,315
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	(28,541)		(67,138)		(26,003)
Total adjustments	87,771		121,466		316,983
Net cash provided by operating activities	325,596		316,827		258,819
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(51,291)		(89,716)		(64,976)
Capital expenditures	(350,338)		(270,210)		(200,372)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	357,314		484,904		326,853
Purchases of interests in unconsolidated real estate and corporate assets	(10,863)		(7,818)		(15,123)
Purchase of investment in debt securities	0		0		(51,534)
Purchase of West Harlem first mortgage property loans	(119,101)		0		0
Proceeds from repayment of West Harlem property loans and option value	215,517		0		0
Proceeds from sales of and distributions from unconsolidated real estate partnerships	0		31,192		17,095
Changes in restricted cash	3,003		(22,886)		10,306
Other investing activities	20,951		(13,799)		18,245
Net cash provided by investing activities	65,192		111,667		40,494
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt	232,965		243,253		927,093
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt	(472,276)		(447,792)		(1,083,690)
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility	50,400				0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock or units	0		594,379		71,942
Redemptions and repurchases of preferred stock or units	0		(600,938)		(36,367)
Proceeds from Common Stock option exercises	993		48,907		1,806
Payment of dividends to holders of preferred stock or units	(2,804)		(37,019)		(49,756)
Payment of dividends to holders of Common Stock	(140,052)		(104,006)		(57,583)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(63,766)		(57,849)		(58,413)
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(16,775)		(57,008)		(14,811)
Other financing activities	(8,135)		(17,074)		(19,793)
Net cash used in financing activities	(419,450)		(435,147)		(319,572)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(28,662)		(6,653)		(20,259)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	84,413		91,066		111,325
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	55,751		84,413		91,066
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid	273,635		294,423		336,565
Cash paid for income taxes	600		1,100		1,200
Non-cash transactions associated with the acquisition or disposition of real estate:
Secured debt assumed in connection with our acquisition of real estate	14,767		38,779		0
Secured debt assumed by buyer in connection with our disposition of real estate	126,663		208,134		127,494
Secured, subordinate debt of the disposed legacy asset management business forgiven in connection with the disposition of real estate	8,149		15,019		0
Other non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common OP Units for acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	416		4,553		168
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	237,825		195,361		(56,865)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	291,910		325,173		323,233
Provision for real estate impairment losses	0		6,235		0
Equity in (income) losses of unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(926)		4,408		17,721
Gain on dispositions of unconsolidated real estate and other, net	(1,797)		(21,886)		(2,403)
Income tax benefit	(1,959)		(858)		(5,941)
Share-based compensation expense	5,645		4,871		5,381
Amortization of deferred loan costs and other	4,915		5,044		5,696
Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization	16,372		41,577		72,099
Gain on disposition of real estate	(212,459)		(234,530)		(108,203)
Other adjustments to income from discontinued operations	10,019		27,854		27,088
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	4,592		30,716		7,016
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	(28,541)		(67,138)		(26,003)
Total adjustments	87,771		121,466		315,684
Net cash provided by operating activities	325,596		316,827		258,819
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(51,291)		(89,716)		(64,976)
Capital expenditures	(350,338)		(270,210)		(200,372)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	357,314		484,904		326,853
Purchases of interests in unconsolidated real estate and corporate assets	(10,863)		(7,818)		(15,123)
Purchase of investment in debt securities	0		0		(51,534)
Purchase of West Harlem first mortgage property loans	(119,101)		0		0
Proceeds from repayment of West Harlem property loans and option value	215,517		0		0
Proceeds from sales of and distributions from unconsolidated real estate partnerships	0		31,192		17,095
Changes in restricted cash	3,003		(22,886)		10,306
Repayment of notes receivable from Aimco	0		0		18,798
Other investing activities	20,951		(13,799)		18,245
Net cash provided by investing activities	65,192		111,667		59,292
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt	232,965		243,253		927,093
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt	(472,276)		(447,792)		(1,083,690)
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility	50,400		0		0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock or units	0		594,379		71,942
Redemptions and repurchases of preferred stock or units	0		(600,938)		(36,367)
Proceeds from Common Stock option exercises	993		48,907		1,806
Payment of dividends to holders of preferred stock or units	(9,227)		(43,515)		(56,439)
Payment of distributions to General Partner and Special Limited Partner	(140,052)		(104,006)		(76,381)
Payment of distributions to Limited Partners	(7,642)		(6,153)		(5,264)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(49,701)		(45,200)		(46,466)
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(16,775)		(57,008)		(14,811)
Other financing activities	(8,135)		(17,074)		(19,793)
Net cash used in financing activities	(419,450)		(435,147)		(338,370)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(28,662)		(6,653)		(20,259)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	84,413		91,066		111,325
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	55,751		84,413		91,066
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid	273,635		294,423		336,565
Cash paid for income taxes	629		1,056		1,233
Non-cash transactions associated with the acquisition or disposition of real estate:
Secured debt assumed in connection with our acquisition of real estate	14,767		38,779		0
Secured debt assumed by buyer in connection with our disposition of real estate	126,663		208,134		127,494
Secured, subordinate debt of the disposed legacy asset management business forgiven in connection with the disposition of real estate	8,149		15,019		0
Other non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common OP Units for acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	$ 416		$ 4,553		$ 168

[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.