Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate, net	$ 5,564,185	$ 5,472,779
Cash and cash equivalents	46,835	28,971
Restricted cash	89,083	91,445
Other assets	457,591	476,727
Non-recourse property debt	3,818,487	4,022,809
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 280,118	$ 279,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,787,260	500,787,260
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	156,281,519	146,403,274
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	156,281,519	146,403,274
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Real estate, net	$ 5,564,185	$ 5,472,779
Cash and cash equivalents	46,835	28,971
Restricted cash	89,083	91,445
Other assets	457,591	476,727
Non-recourse property debt	3,818,487	4,022,809
Accrued liabilities and other	280,118	279,077
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, net	348,562	360,160
Cash and cash equivalents	19,937	17,108
Restricted cash	32,661	36,196
Other assets	177,533	182,108
Non-recourse property debt	328,934	336,471
Accrued liabilities and other	137,398	135,644
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Real estate, net	348,562	360,160
Cash and cash equivalents	19,537	17,108
Restricted cash	32,661	36,196
Other assets	177,533	182,108
Non-recourse property debt	328,934	336,471
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 137,398	$ 135,644