Net Cash Proceeds from the Sale of Real Estate with Seller Financing Provided

No definition available.

Name:	aiv_NetCashProceedsfromtheSaleofRealEstatewithSellerFinancingProvided
Namespace Prefix:	aiv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net Proceeds from the Sale of Real Estate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aiv_NetProceedsfromtheSaleofRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	aiv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties during the reporting period gross of the applicable income taxes realized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 974
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-15.(a)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6875705&loc=d3e641549-123027

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertiesBeforeApplicableIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties during the reporting period net of the applicable income taxes realized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 974
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-15.(a)(1)(ii))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6875705&loc=d3e641549-123027

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s) more than one year from the balance sheet date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Significant Transactions - Disposition of Apartment Communities and Assets Held For Sale (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) community apartment_home	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) community	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management Business		$ 677,463	$ 300,849	$ 400,156
Number of apartment homes \| community		6
Number of apartment communities \| apartment_home		1,480
Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate			10,900	27,500
Gain on dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management Business			$ 2,600	$ 16,500
Number of apartment homes \| community			3
Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Subsequent Event
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	$ 141,200
Gain on dispositions of real estate	87,500
Net proceeds to Aimco from the sale of real estate	$ 114,900
Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of apartment homes \| community		2
Number of apartment communities \| apartment_home		782
Wholly and Partially Owned and Consolidated Properties \| Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate		$ 590,000
Gain on dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management Business		500,300
Net proceeds to Aimco from the sale of real estate		512,200
La Jolla Cove \| Wholly and Partially Owned and Consolidated Properties \| Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Stated value of seller financing provided		48,600
Net cash proceeds received		$ 5,000