Partners Capital (Reedemable Partnership Preferred Units) (Details) (AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P, USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Units Issued	2,930,077	3,061,450
Units Outstanding	2,930,077,000	3,061,450,000
Balances	$ 79,231	$ 82,515
Preferred OP units tendered for redemption in exchange for cash or other consideration	131,400	1,600	83,500
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	83,384	103,428	116,656
Preferred distributions	6,496	6,683	6,730
Redemption of preferred units	3,338	20,044	11,462
Net income	6,496	6,683	4,964
Ending Balance	80,046	83,384	103,428
Class Eight [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Units Issued	0	6,250
Units Outstanding	0	6,250,000
Balances	0	156
Class Seven [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	7.87%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 1.97
Units Issued	27,960	27,960
Units Outstanding	27,960,000	27,960,000
Balances	699	699
Class Six [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	8.50%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 2.13
Units Issued	790,883	796,668
Units Outstanding	790,883,000	796,668,000
Balances	19,772	19,917
Class Four [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	8.00%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 2.00
Units Issued	644,954	755,999
Units Outstanding	644,954,000	755,999,000
Balances	16,124	18,900
Class Three [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	7.88%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 1.97
Units Issued	1,357,691	1,365,284
Units Outstanding	1,357,691,000	1,365,284,000
Balances	33,942	34,132
Class Two [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	1.84%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 0.46
Units Issued	18,589	19,289
Units Outstanding	18,589,000	19,289,000
Balances	465	482
Class One [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Distribution Per Annum, Percent	8.75%
Distribution Per Annum, Per Unit	$ 8.00
Units Issued	90,000	90,000
Units Outstanding	90,000,000	90,000,000
Balances	$ 8,229	$ 8,229

Temporary Equity, Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Percentage

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- Definition

Temporary Equity, Units Redeemed During Period, Units

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by a LLC or LP.

+ References

No definition available.

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Per-share or per-unit cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by an LLC or LP.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Carrying amount, attributable to parent, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Change in the value of each type or class of stock classified as temporary equity during the period. The redemption requirement does not constitute an unconditional obligation that will be settled in a variable number of shares constituting a monetary value predominantly indexed to (a) a fixed monetary amount known at inception, (b) an amount inversely correlated with the residual value of the entity, or (c) an amount determined by reference to something other than the fair value of issuer's stock. Does not include mandatorily redeemable stock. The exception is if redemption is required upon liquidation or termination of the reporting entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph c

-Article 5

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- Definition

The portion of net income or loss attributable to temporary equity interest.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount to be paid by the entity upon redemption of the security that is classified as temporary equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.27(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 00-19

-Paragraph 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The number of securities classified as temporary equity that have been sold (or granted) to the entity's shareholders. Securities issued include securities outstanding and securities held in treasury. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

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- Definition

The number of securities classified as temporary equity that have been issued and are held by the entity's shareholders. Securities outstanding equals securities issued minus securities held in treasury. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

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