Other Significant Transactions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 PartnershipUnit
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Net proceeds to Aimco from sale of preferred stock	$ 9,836,000
Other Significant Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Property acquired	72,300,000
Outstanding principal balance	29,100,000
Fair value of debt related to real estate acquired	33,255,000
Number of consolidated real estate partnerships in which remaining noncontrolling limited partnership interests were acquired	7
Number of properties of consolidated partnerships acquired	13
Excess of the consideration paid over the carrying amount of noncontrolling interests acquired recognized as an adjustment of equity	28,300,000
Total cost of noncontrolling limited partnership interests	38,500,000
Class Z Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Class Z Cumulative Preferred Stock issued	405,090
Dividend rate of preferred stock issued	7.00%
Par value of preferred stock issued	$ 0.01
Net proceeds per share to Aimco	$ 24.27
Per share offering price to the public for preferred stock issued	$ 24.78
Per share amount of underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated transaction costs related to sale of preferred stock	$ 0.51
Net proceeds to Aimco from sale of preferred stock	$ 9,800,000
Acquisition [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units in owned real estate properties in segments	488