Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital (USD $) In Thousands	Total	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P Preferred Units	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P General Partner and Special Limited Partner	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P Limited Partners	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P Partners’ Capital Attributable to the Partnership	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P Non - controlling Interests
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 1,324,002	$ 657,601	$ 406,020	$ (31,077)	$ 1,032,544	$ 291,458
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco		19,990	21,075			19,990
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco (issuance costs)				(1,085)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco		(16,366)	(21,562)			(16,366)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco				5,196
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco		71,942		71,942		71,942
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(6,059)			(6,059)	(6,059)
Contribution from Aimco related to employee stock purchases and related amounts, net		2,107		2,107		2,107
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		5,883		5,883		5,883
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	12,358	12,358					12,358
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(22,305)	(22,313)		(52,059)	15,736	(36,323)	14,010
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,727)	(5,727)		(4,784)	(503)	(5,287)	(440)
Net income (loss)		(63,548)		(56,137)	(7,154)	(63,291)	(257)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(51,727)	(46,463)					(46,463)
Distributions to common unitholders		(81,376)		(76,112)	(5,264)	(81,376)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(49,756)		(49,756)		(49,756)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2011		1,144,674	657,114	251,215	(34,321)	874,008	270,666
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco		9,818	10,039			9,818
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco		(600,938)	(599,039)	(1,899)		(600,938)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco				(221)
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco		594,379		594,379		594,379
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(11,079)			(11,079)	(11,079)
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		5,223		5,223		5,223
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco in connection with exercise of Aimco stock options	48,907	48,907		48,907		48,907
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,928	2,928					2,928
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(50,654)	(53,240)		(54,799)	10,022	(44,777)	(8,463)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,433	3,433		3,318	199	3,517	(84)
Other, net		4,547		2	4,545	4,547
Net income (loss)		188,865		132,456	5,191	137,647	51,218
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(51,353)	(45,200)			0	0	(45,200)
Distributions to common unitholders		(110,159)		(104,006)	(6,153)	(110,159)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(27,264)		(27,264)		(27,264)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2012		1,154,894	68,114	847,311	(31,596)	883,829	271,065
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(3,085)			(3,085)	(3,085)
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		5,915		5,915		5,915
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco in connection with exercise of Aimco stock options	993	993		993		993
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,630	1,630					1,630
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(17,170)	(17,675)		(19,805)	2,635	(17,170)	(505)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(776)	(776)		(1,060)	(58)	(1,118)	342
Other, net		2,248		1,555	386	1,941	307
Net income (loss)		231,402		207,290	11,639	218,929	12,473
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(59,946)	(52,304)					(52,304)
Distributions to common unitholders		(147,694)		(140,052)	(7,642)	(147,694)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(2,804)		(2,804)		(2,804)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,172,744	$ 68,114	$ 899,343	$ (27,721)	$ 939,736	$ 233,008