Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Summary Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Asset Management
Real Estate
Balance at beginning of year	$ 551,124	$ 555,049	$ 562,589
Additions during the year:
Capital additions	4,226	8,255	8,909
Deductions during the year:
Casualty and other write-offs	6,603	(1,711)	(2,116)
Amounts related to assets held for sale	0	0	(2,801)
Sales	(561,953)	(10,469)	(11,532)
Balance at end of year	0	551,124	555,049
Accumulated Depreciation
Balance at beginning of year	326,251	309,401	289,574
Additions during the year
Depreciation	14,325	24,090	24,704
Deductions during the year:
Casualty and other write-offs	6,704	(2,480)	(68)
Amounts related to assets held for sale	0	0	(1,525)
Sales	(347,280)	(4,760)	(3,284)
Balance at end of year	0	326,251	309,401
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	6,700	1,800
Aimco Real Estate
Real Estate
Balance at beginning of year	7,927,753	7,931,117	7,744,894
Additions during the year:
Acquisitions	501,009	16,687	333,174
Capital additions	344,501	345,974	329,697
Deductions during the year:
Casualty and other write-offs	(58,152)	(106,590)	(170,744)
Provision for real estate impairment loss	0	(35,881)	0
Amounts related to assets held for sale	(83,905)	(38,208)	0
Sales	(322,616)	(185,346)	(305,904)
Balance at end of year	8,308,590	7,927,753	7,931,117
Accumulated Depreciation
Balance at beginning of year	2,522,358	2,421,357	2,488,448
Additions during the year
Depreciation	339,883	320,870	287,661
Deductions during the year:
Casualty and other write-offs	(57,067)	(106,521)	(169,098)
Amounts related to assets held for sale	(41,717)	(20,383)	0
Sales	(178,342)	(92,965)	(185,654)
Balance at end of year	2,585,115	2,522,358	2,421,357
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	$ 54,500	$ 106,400	$ 167,900