Earnings (Loss) per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 12,040	$ (1,663)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	69,492	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,605)	1,158
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(454)	(702)
Income attributable to participating securities	(239)	(140)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	64,234	(1,347)
Income from discontinued operations	0	4,496
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	1,901
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	0	6,397
Net income	81,532	2,833
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,605)	3,059
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(454)	(702)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(239)	(140)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	64,234	5,050
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	145,473	145,169
Dilutive potential common shares/units	208	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	145,681	145,169
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.44	$ (0.01)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.04
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.44	$ 0.03
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	12,040	(1,663)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	69,492	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11,389)	2,745
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(2,059)	(2,308)
Income attributable to participating securities	(239)	(140)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	67,845	(1,366)
Income from discontinued operations	0	4,496
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	2,217
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	0	6,713
Net income	81,532	2,833
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11,389)	4,962
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(2,059)	(2,308)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(239)	(140)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 67,845	$ 5,347
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	153,329	153,169
Dilutive potential common shares/units	208	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	153,537	153,169
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.44	$ (0.01)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.04
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.44	$ 0.03