Earnings (Loss) per Share and Earning (Loss) per Unit (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations	$ (24,224,000)	$ (31,671,000)
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	196,000	7,126,000
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(12,439,000)	(12,456,000)
Income attributable to participating securities	(119,000)	(57,000)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	(36,586,000)	(37,058,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net	34,871,000	4,394,000
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,894,000)	891,000
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	25,977,000	5,285,000
Net income (loss)	10,647,000	(27,277,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,698,000)	8,017,000
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(12,439,000)	(12,456,000)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(119,000)	(57,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to the company's common equityholders	(10,609,000)	(31,773,000)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share/unit - weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	120,526,000	117,320,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive potential common shares/units
Denominator for diluted earnings per share/unit	120,526,000	117,320,000
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ (0.30)	$ (0.32)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.21	$ 0.05
Net loss attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ (0.09)	$ (0.27)
Earnings Per Share/Unit (Textual) [Abstract]
Common share/unit equivalents that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share/unit in future periods	5,200,000	7,100,000
Participating securities	500,000	500,000
Method used in calculating earnings per share/unit	two-class method
Preferred OP Units, Distributions, Low Range	1.80%
Preferred OP Units, Distributions, High Range	8.80%
Preferred OP Units outstanding	3,100,000
Redemption value of Preferred OP Units outstanding	82,500,000
Number of shares of common stock required to redeem Preferred OP Units tendered for redemption, if parent chooses to redeem in shares rather than cash	3,100,000
AIMCO PROPERTIES,L.P
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations	(24,224,000)	(31,459,000)
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(699,000)	6,033,000
Income attributable to the company's preferred equity holders	(14,109,000)	(14,127,000)
Income attributable to participating securities	(119,000)	(57,000)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	(39,151,000)	(39,610,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net	34,871,000	4,394,000
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,066,000)	1,272,000
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	27,805,000	5,666,000
Net income (loss)	10,647,000	(27,065,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	7,765,000	(7,305,000)
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders	(14,109,000)	(14,127,000)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(119,000)	(57,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ (11,346,000)	$ (33,944,000)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share/unit - weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	128,729,000	125,773,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive potential common shares/units
Denominator for diluted earnings per share/unit	128,729,000	125,773,000
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ (0.30)	$ (0.31)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.21	$ 0.04
Net loss attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ (0.09)	$ (0.27)
Common Unit [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES,L.P
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share/unit - weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	126,389,000	123,433,000
High Performance Units [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES,L.P
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share/unit - weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	2,340,000	2,340,000