Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Total Aimco Equity	Common Noncontrolling interests in Aimco Operating Partnerships	Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		5,000	152,435
Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,655,753	$ 125,000	$ 1,524	$ 3,900,090	$ 3,603	$ (2,367,073)	$ 1,663,144	$ (5,675)	$ (1,716)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership Units	(6,963)							(6,963)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			19
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	2,988			2,631			2,631	357
Effect in changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(10,907)			(17,486)			(17,486)	6,579
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(62)				(59)		(59)	(3)
Other, net (in shares)			114
Other, net	93		$ 1	92			93
Net income	93,753					83,792	83,792	3,755	6,206
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(7,245)								(7,245)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stock holders	(62,615)					(59,777)	(59,777)	(2,838)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stock holders	(2,148)					(2,148)	(2,148)
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		5,000	152,568
Balances at Mar. 31, 2018	1,662,647	$ 125,000	$ 1,525	3,885,327	3,544	(2,345,206)	1,670,190	(4,788)	(2,755)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		5,000	144,623
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	1,763,641	$ 125,000	$ 1,446	3,515,686	4,794	(1,947,507)	1,699,419	67,189	(2,967)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common Stock (in shares)			(461)
Repurchases of Common Stock	(20,682)		$ (5)	(20,677)			(20,682)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership Units	(2,557)							(2,557)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			22
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	3,238			2,442			2,442	796
Effect in changes in ownership for consolidated entities				(2,168)			(2,168)	2,168
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	61				57		57	4
Other, net (in shares)			82
Other, net	78		$ 2	57			59		19
Net income	289,361					274,133	274,133	15,137	91
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,244)							(3,244)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stock holders	(67,476)					(67,476)	(67,476)
Common Stock issued in special dividend (n shares)			4,492
Common Stock issued in special dividend			$ 45	(45)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stock holders	(2,148)					(2,148)	(2,148)
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		5,000	148,758
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 1,960,272	$ 125,000	$ 1,488	$ 3,495,295	$ 4,851	$ (1,742,998)	$ 1,883,636	$ 79,493	$ (2,857)