Earnings (Loss) per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 26,804	[1]	$ 6,977	[1]	$ 2,477	[1]	$ (1,662)	[1]	$ 7,839	[1]	$ 5,369	[1]	$ (5,670)	[1]	$ (26,294)	[1]	$ 34,596	$ (18,756)	$ (136,237)
Loss (income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	10,555	(11,034)	36,455
Income attributable to preferred stockholders																	(2,804)	(49,888)	(45,852)
Income attributable to participating securities																	(813)	(422)	(222)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders																	41,534	(80,100)	(145,856)
Income from discontinued operations, net	121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	89,409	[1]	47,966	[1]	39,801	[1]	36,941	[1]	203,229	214,117	78,073
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(41,090)	(51,871)	(35,378)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco																	162,139	162,246	42,695
Net income (loss)	148,603	[1]	79,410	[1]	6,979	[1]	2,833	[1]	97,248	[1]	53,335	[1]	34,131	[1]	10,647	[1]	237,825	195,361	(58,164)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(30,535)	(62,905)	1,077
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders																	(2,804)	(49,888)	(45,852)
Net income attributable to participating securities																	(813)	(422)	(222)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders	122,037	[1]	66,268	[1]	10,107	[1]	5,050	[1]	67,928	[1]	24,163	[1]	523	[1]	(10,609)	[1]	203,673	82,146	(103,161)
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	145,341	[1]	145,334	[1]	145,321	[1]	145,169	[1]									145,291	134,479	119,312
Dilutive potential common shares/units																	(241)	0	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	145,499		145,563		145,674		145,169										145,532	134,479	119,312
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)s	$ 0.25		$ 0.04		$ 0.01		$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)		$ (0.07)		$ (0.25)		$ (0.30)		$ 0.29	$ (0.60)	$ (1.22)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)																	$ 1.11	$ 1.21	$ 0.36
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.84		$ 0.46		$ 0.07		$ 0.03		$ 0.47		$ 0.17		$ 0.00		$ (0.09)		$ 1.40	$ 0.61	$ (0.86)
Dividends declared per common share/unit																	$ 0.96	$ 0.76	$ 0.48
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	26,804	[1]	6,977	[1]	2,477	[1]	(1,662)	[1]	7,839	[1]	5,369	[1]	(5,670)	[1]	(26,294)	[1]	34,596	(18,756)	(134,938)
Loss (income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	19,369	(9,585)	32,488
Income attributable to preferred stockholders																	(9,227)	(56,384)	(52,535)
Income attributable to participating securities																	(813)	(422)	(222)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders																	43,925	(85,147)	(155,207)
Income from discontinued operations, net	121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	89,409	[1]	47,966	[1]	39,801	[1]	36,941	[1]	203,229	214,117	78,073
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(31,842)	(41,633)	(32,231)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco																	171,387	172,484	45,842
Net income (loss)	148,603	[1]	79,410	[1]	6,979	[1]	2,833	[1]	97,248	[1]	53,335	[1]	34,131	[1]	10,647	[1]	237,825	195,361	(56,865)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(12,473)	(51,218)	257
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders																	(9,227)	(56,384)	(52,535)
Net income attributable to participating securities																	(813)	(422)	(222)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 129,008	[1]	$ 70,064	[1]	$ 10,682	[1]	$ 5,347	[1]	$ 72,190	[1]	$ 25,774	[1]	$ 578	[1]	$ (11,346)	[1]	$ 215,312	$ 87,337	$ (109,365)
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	153,276	[1]	153,287	[1]	153,294	[1]	153,169	[1]									153,256	142,614	127,681
Dilutive potential common shares/units																	(241)	0	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	153,434		153,516		153,647		153,169										153,497	142,614	127,681
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)s	$ 0.25		$ 0.04		$ 0.01		$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)		$ (0.07)		$ (0.25)		$ (0.30)		$ 0.29	$ (0.60)	$ (1.22)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)																	$ 1.11	$ 1.21	$ 0.36
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.84		$ 0.46		$ 0.07		$ 0.03		$ 0.47		$ 0.17		$ 0		$ (0.09)		$ 1.40	$ 0.61	$ (0.86)
Dividends declared per common share/unit																	$ 0.96	$ 0.76	$ 0.63
Special Distribution to Common Partnership Units [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Dividends declared per common share/unit																			$ 0.15

[1] Certain reclassifications have been made to 2013 and 2012 quarterly amounts to conform to the full year 2013 presentation, primarily related to treatment of discontinued operations.