Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) Units Property Entity	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Units Property Entity	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Nominal ownership position in low-income housing tax credit partnerships, percentage, up to	1.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 63,762	$ 61,244	$ 55,225	$ 50,789
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of consolidated variable interest entities | Entity	12	13
Number of apartment communities | Property	16	19
Number of apartment homes owned by VIEs | Units	4,728	6,110
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract]
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	$ 563,106	$ 897,510
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	15,259	15,877
Restricted cash	6,882	7,981
Secured Debt	420,043	725,061
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 13,832	$ 14,270
Asset Management [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of consolidated variable interest entities | Entity	53	54
Number of apartment communities | Property	37	38
Number of apartment homes owned by VIEs | Units	5,893	6,093
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract]
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	$ 222,409	$ 235,920
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	17,350	14,926
Restricted cash	29,311	32,542
Secured Debt	222,779	229,509
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 15,545	$ 16,934