Earnings per Share/Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,907	$ 17,943	$ 42,364	$ 29,983
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	44,781	66,662	130,474	136,154
Income from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,819)	(7,563)	(15,709)	(24,168)
Income attributable to preferred equity holders	(2,758)	(1,758)	(6,280)	(2,212)
Income attributable to participating securities	(307)	(274)	(701)	(513)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equity holders	60,804	75,010	150,148	139,244
Net income	68,688	84,605	172,838	166,137
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,819)	(7,563)	(15,709)	(24,168)
Net income attributable to preferred equity holders	(2,758)	(1,758)	(6,280)	(2,212)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(307)	(274)	(701)	(513)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 60,804	$ 75,010	$ 150,148	$ 139,244
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – basic (in shares)	155,524	145,657	154,672	145,565
Dilutive potential common shares/units (in shares)	430	328	443	268
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – diluted (in shares)	155,954	145,985	155,115	145,833
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.39	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ 0.96
Net Income	0.39	0.51	0.97	0.96
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share/unit)	0.39	0.51	0.97	0.95
Net income	$ 0.39	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ 0.95
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,907	$ 17,943	$ 42,364	$ 29,983
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	44,781	66,662	130,474	136,154
Income from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests	(111)	(2,226)	(4,867)	(13,615)
Income attributable to preferred equity holders	(4,494)	(3,360)	(9,752)	(5,419)
Income attributable to participating securities	(307)	(274)	(701)	(513)
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equity holders	63,776	78,745	157,518	146,590
Net income	68,688	84,605	172,838	166,137
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(111)	(2,226)	(4,867)	(13,615)
Net income attributable to preferred equity holders	(4,494)	(3,360)	(9,752)	(5,419)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(307)	(274)	(701)	(513)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 63,776	$ 78,745	$ 157,518	$ 146,590
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – basic (in shares)	163,149	153,377	162,304	153,295
Dilutive potential common shares/units (in shares)	430	328	443	268
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding – diluted (in shares)	163,579	153,705	162,747	153,563
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.39	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ 0.96
Net Income	0.39	0.51	0.97	0.96
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share/unit)	0.39	0.51	0.97	0.95
Net income	$ 0.39	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ 0.95