Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Total Aimco Equity	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			6,391	156,326
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,763,905	$ 1,622,391	$ 159,126	$ 1,563	$ 4,064,659	$ (6,040)	$ (2,596,917)	$ 141,514
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption and repurchase of stock (in shares)			(1,391)
Redemption and repurchase of stock	(34,799)	(34,799)	$ (34,126)		1,307		(1,980)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(10,819)							(10,819)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)				31
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	8,610	8,610			8,610
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(16,064)	(26,171)			(26,171)			10,107
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	7,662	7,051				7,051		611
Other, net (in shares)				531
Other, net	3,323	3,323		$ 6	3,317		0
Net income	476,034	430,410					430,410	45,624
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(35,974)							(35,974)
Common Stock dividends	(206,898)	(206,898)					(206,898)
Preferred Stock dividends	(10,014)	(10,014)					(10,014)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			5,000	156,888
Balances at Dec. 31, 2016	1,944,966	1,793,903	$ 125,000	$ 1,569	4,051,722	1,011	(2,385,399)	151,063
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(11,882)							(11,882)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)				18
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	9,251	8,638			8,638			613
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,401							3,401
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(312,775)	(160,586)			(160,586)			(152,189)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	2,814	2,592				2,592		222
Other, net (in shares)				283
Other, net	271	271		$ 3	268
Net income	339,315	315,774					315,774	23,541
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(19,132)							(19,132)
Common Stock dividends	(226,172)	(226,172)					(226,172)
Preferred Stock dividends	(8,594)	(8,594)					(8,594)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			5,000	157,189
Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	1,655,753	1,663,144	$ 125,000	$ 1,572	3,900,042	3,603	(2,367,073)	(7,391)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption and repurchase of stock (in shares)				(8,219)
Redemption and repurchase of stock	(373,593)	(373,593)		$ (82)	(373,511)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	50,151							50,151
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(9,639)							(9,639)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)				22
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	9,765	8,074			8,074			1,691
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(10,101)	(19,115)			(19,115)			9,014
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	1,260	1,191				1,191		69
Other, net (in shares)				142
Other, net	152	152		$ 1	151
Net income	708,864	666,227					666,227	42,637
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(22,310)							(22,310)
Common Stock dividends	(238,067)	(238,067)					(238,067)
Preferred Stock dividends	(8,594)	(8,594)					(8,594)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			5,000	149,134
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,763,641	$ 1,699,419	$ 125,000	$ 1,491	$ 3,515,641	$ 4,794	$ (1,947,507)	$ 64,222