Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 65,074	$ 61,244
Total assets	6,187,440	6,232,818
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total indebtedness associated with Real Estate portfolio	4,000,000	3,900,000
Total liabilities	4,249,457	4,184,651
Preferred noncontrolling interests/Redeemable Preferred Units	101,606	103,201
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
Equity/Partners' Capital:
Perpetual Preferred Stock	125,000	125,000
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 500,787,260 shares authorized, 157,022,248 and 156,888,381 shares issued/outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,570	1,569
Additional paid-in capital	4,051,645	4,051,722
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(118)	1,011
Distributions in excess of earnings	(2,489,961)	(2,385,399)
Total Aimco equity	1,688,136	1,793,903
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	153,242	151,121
Common noncontrolling interests in Aimco Operating Partnership	(5,001)	(58)
Total equity	1,836,377	1,944,966
Total liabilities and equity/partners' capital	6,187,440	6,232,818
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	65,074	61,244
Total assets	6,187,440	6,232,818
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	4,249,457	4,184,651
Preferred noncontrolling interests/Redeemable Preferred Units	101,606	103,201
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
Equity/Partners' Capital:
Preferred units	125,000	125,000
General Partner and Special Limited Partner	1,563,136	1,668,903
Limited Partners	(5,001)	(58)
Partners’ capital attributable to the Aimco Operating Partnership	1,683,135	1,793,845
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	153,242	151,121
Total partners’ capital	1,836,377	1,944,966
Total liabilities and equity/partners' capital	6,187,440	6,232,818
Asset Management [Member]
ASSETS
Net real estate	235,549	245,648
Cash and cash equivalents	19,198	15,423
Restricted cash	30,945	33,501
Other assets	57,580	53,271
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Non-recourse property debt, net	230,882	236,426
Accrued liabilities and other	58,624	58,430
Deferred income	16,868	18,452
Asset Management [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
ASSETS
Net real estate	235,549	245,648
Cash and cash equivalents	19,198	15,423
Restricted cash	30,945	33,501
Other assets	57,580	53,271
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Non-recourse property debt, net	230,882	236,426
Accrued liabilities and other	58,624	58,430
Deferred income	16,868	18,452
Aimco Real Estate [Member]
ASSETS
Buildings and improvements	6,181,617	6,106,298
Land	1,824,672	1,824,819
Total real estate	8,006,289	7,931,117
Accumulated depreciation	(2,496,667)	(2,421,357)
Net real estate	5,509,622	5,509,760
Cash and cash equivalents	45,876	45,821
Restricted cash	42,604	36,405
Other assets	246,066	292,989
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Non-recourse property debt, net	3,670,454	3,630,276
Revolving credit facility borrowings	69,700	17,930
Total indebtedness associated with Real Estate portfolio	3,740,154	3,648,206
Accrued liabilities and other	202,929	223,137
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
ASSETS
Buildings and improvements	6,181,617	6,106,298
Land	1,824,672	1,824,819
Total real estate	8,006,289	7,931,117
Accumulated depreciation	(2,496,667)	(2,421,357)
Net real estate	5,509,622	5,509,760
Cash and cash equivalents	45,876	45,821
Restricted cash	42,604	36,405
Other assets	246,066	292,989
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Non-recourse property debt, net	3,670,454	3,630,276
Revolving credit facility borrowings	69,700	17,930
Total indebtedness associated with Real Estate portfolio	3,740,154	3,648,206
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 202,929	$ 223,137