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	Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships	Common Noncontrolling Interests In Aimco Operating Partnership
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,763,641	$ 125,000	$ 1,446	$ 3,515,686	$ 4,794	$ (1,947,507)	$ 1,699,419	$ (2,967)	$ 67,189
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		5,000	144,623
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common Stock	(20,682)		$ (5)	(20,677)			(20,682)
Repurchases of Common Stock (in shares)			(461)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(2,557)						0	0	(2,557)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	3,238			2,442			2,442		796
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			22
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities				(2,168)			(2,168)		2,168
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	61				57		57		4
Net income	289,361					274,133	274,133	91	15,137
Common Stock dividends	(67,476)					(67,476)	(67,476)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend			$ 45	(45)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend (in shares)			4,492
Preferred Stock dividends	(2,148)					(2,148)	(2,148)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,244)								(3,244)
Other, net	78		$ 2	57		0	59	19
Other, net (in shares)			82
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	1,960,272	$ 125,000	$ 1,488	3,495,295	4,851	(1,742,998)	1,883,636	(2,857)	79,493
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		5,000	148,758
Balances at Dec. 31, 2019	1,860,795	$ 0	$ 1,489	3,497,367	4,195	(1,722,402)	1,780,649	(3,296)	83,442
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	148,885
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common Stock	(10,004)	$ 0	$ (2)	(10,002)			(10,004)
Repurchases of Common Stock (in shares)			(234)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(969)							0	(969)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	2,980			1,929			1,929		1,051
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			20
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	0			(769)			(769)		769
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(60)				(56)		(56)		(4)
Net income	7,208					6,722	6,722	118	368
Common Stock dividends	(60,825)					(60,825)	(60,825)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,228)							(73)	(3,155)
Other, net	(72)			86		0	86	(158)
Other, net (in shares)			29
Balances at Mar. 31, 2020	1,795,548	$ 0	$ 1,487	$ 3,488,611	$ 4,139	(1,776,782)	1,717,455	$ (3,409)	$ 81,502
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		0	148,700
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	$ (277)					$ (277)	$ (277)