Earnings (Loss) per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 18,186	$ 6,975	$ 48,169	$ 7,791
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	126,329	0	262,483	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,487)	(656)	(40,655)	(293)
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(2,875)	(702)	(5,087)	(2,105)
Income attributable to participating securities	(447)	(262)	(962)	(418)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	124,706	5,355	263,948	4,975
Income from discontinued operations	0	72,435	0	81,431
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(11,522)	0	(4,857)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	0	60,913	0	76,574
Net income	144,515	79,410	310,652	89,222
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16,487)	(12,178)	(40,655)	(5,150)
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(2,875)	(702)	(5,087)	(2,105)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(447)	(262)	(962)	(418)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	124,706	66,268	263,948	81,549
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	145,672	145,334	145,601	145,274
Dilutive potential common shares/units	432	229	323	268
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	146,104	145,563	145,924	145,542
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.86	$ 0.04	$ 1.81	$ 0.03
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.00	$ 0.53
Net income	$ 0.86	$ 0.46	$ 1.81	$ 0.56
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.85	$ 0.04	$ 1.81	$ 0.03
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.00	$ 0.53
Net income	$ 0.85	$ 0.46	$ 1.81	$ 0.56
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	18,186	6,975	48,169	7,791
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	126,329	0	262,483	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,337)	1,303	(21,952)	4,884
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(4,476)	(2,308)	(9,895)	(6,923)
Income attributable to participating securities	(447)	(262)	(962)	(418)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	131,255	5,708	277,843	5,334
Income from discontinued operations	0	72,435	0	81,431
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(8,079)	0	(548)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	0	64,356	0	80,883
Net income	144,515	79,410	310,652	89,222
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,337)	(6,776)	(21,952)	4,336
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(4,476)	(2,308)	(9,895)	(6,923)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(447)	(262)	(962)	(418)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 131,255	$ 70,064	$ 277,843	$ 86,217
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	153,337	153,287	153,326	153,242
Dilutive potential common shares/units	432	229	323	268
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	153,769	153,516	153,649	153,510
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.86	$ 0.04	$ 1.81	$ 0.03
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.00	$ 0.53
Net income	$ 0.86	$ 0.46	$ 1.81	$ 0.56
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.85	$ 0.04	$ 1.81	$ 0.03
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.00	$ 0.53
Net income	$ 0.85	$ 0.46	$ 1.81	$ 0.56