Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
REVENUES
Rental and other property revenues	$ 227,703	$ 223,741	$ 452,931	$ 446,332
Tax credit and transaction revenues	2,856	8,347	5,547	13,105
Total revenues	249,092	251,218	495,573	497,457
OPERATING EXPENSES
Property operating expenses	79,014	79,708	158,640	159,180
Depreciation and amortization	89,155	80,680	176,323	160,508
General and administrative expenses	10,108	11,616	21,071	23,914
Other expenses, net	2,727	5,526	4,465	7,096
Total operating expenses	189,386	186,782	378,078	369,487
Operating income	59,706	64,436	117,495	127,970
Interest income	2,012	1,843	4,204	3,678
Interest expense	(46,858)	(48,894)	(94,740)	(96,528)
Other, net	200	4,906	665	4,983
Income before income taxes and gain on dispositions	15,060	22,291	27,624	40,103
Income tax benefit	5,023	7,121	10,008	13,007
Income before gain on dispositions	20,083	29,412	37,632	53,110
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	1,508	216,541	1,114	222,728
Net income	21,591	245,953	38,746	275,838
Noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(813)	(8,677)	(1,764)	(9,607)
Net income attributable to preferred noncontrolling interests in Aimco Operating Partnership	(1,939)	(1,708)	(3,888)	(3,434)
Net income attributable to common noncontrolling interests in Aimco Operating Partnership	(787)	(11,135)	(1,344)	(12,307)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,539)	(21,520)	(6,996)	(25,348)
Net income attributable to the company	18,052	224,433	31,750	250,490
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(2,149)	(2,758)	(4,297)	(5,515)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(60)	(293)	(119)	(370)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 15,843	$ 221,382	$ 27,334	$ 244,605
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit
Net income attributable to the company per common share/unit - basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.10	$ 1.42	$ 0.17	$ 1.57
Net income attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	0.10	1.41	0.17	1.57
Dividends declared per common share/unit	$ 0.36	$ 0.33	$ 0.72	$ 0.66
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	156,305	156,375	156,282	155,876
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	156,715	156,793	156,735	156,248
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
REVENUES
Tax credit and transaction revenues	$ 2,856	$ 8,347	$ 5,547	$ 13,105
Total revenues	249,092	251,218	495,573	497,457
OPERATING EXPENSES
Depreciation and amortization	89,155	80,680	176,323	160,508
General and administrative expenses	10,108	11,616	21,071	23,914
Other expenses, net	2,727	5,526	4,465	7,096
Total operating expenses	189,386	186,782	378,078	369,487
Operating income	59,706	64,436	117,495	127,970
Interest income	2,012	1,843	4,204	3,678
Interest expense	(46,858)	(48,894)	(94,740)	(96,528)
Other, net	200	4,906	665	4,983
Income before income taxes and gain on dispositions	15,060	22,291	27,624	40,103
Income tax benefit	5,023	7,121	10,008	13,007
Income before gain on dispositions	20,083	29,412	37,632	53,110
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	1,508	216,541	1,114	222,728
Net income	21,591	245,953	38,746	275,838
Noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(813)	(8,677)	(1,764)	(9,607)
Net income attributable to the company	20,778	237,276	36,982	266,231
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(4,088)	(4,466)	(8,185)	(8,949)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(63)	(293)	(123)	(370)
Net income attributable to the company's common equity holders	$ 16,627	$ 232,517	$ 28,674	$ 256,912
Earnings attributable to the company per common share/unit
Net income attributable to the company per common share/unit - basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 0.10	$ 1.42	$ 0.18	$ 1.57
Net income attributable to the company per common share/unit - diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	0.10	1.41	0.17	1.57
Dividends declared per common share/unit	$ 0.36	$ 0.33	$ 0.72	$ 0.66
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	163,740	164,188	163,777	163,707
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	164,150	164,606	164,230	164,079
Asset Management [Member]
REVENUES
Rental and other property revenues	$ 18,533	$ 19,130	$ 37,095	$ 38,020
OPERATING EXPENSES
Property operating expenses	8,382	9,252	17,579	18,789
Asset Management [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
REVENUES
Rental and other property revenues	18,533	19,130	37,095	38,020
OPERATING EXPENSES
Property operating expenses	8,382	9,252	17,579	18,789
Aimco Real Estate [Member]
REVENUES
Rental and other property revenues	227,703	223,741	452,931	446,332
OPERATING EXPENSES
Property operating expenses	79,014	79,708	158,640	159,180
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
REVENUES
Rental and other property revenues	227,703	223,741	452,931	446,332
OPERATING EXPENSES
Property operating expenses	$ 79,014	$ 79,708	$ 158,640	$ 159,180