Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred Finance Costs [Line Items]
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross	$ 649,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross	$ 649,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Accumulated Amortization, Deferred Finance Costs	427,000	388,000
Amortization of loan costs	39,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	39,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Expected to be incurred 2019 [Member]
Deferred Finance Costs [Line Items]
Amortization of loan costs	31,000
Expected to be incurred 2015 to 2018 [Member]
Deferred Finance Costs [Line Items]
Amortization of loan costs	$ 39,000

Name:	aiv_DeferredFinanceCostsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aiv_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

For an unclassified balance sheet, the accumulated amortization, as of the reporting date, representing the periodic charge to earnings of deferred costs which are associated with debt obligations existing as of the end of the period.

+ 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 210.5-02.17)

-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 17

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to issue debt and obtain financing associated with the related debt instruments. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 8

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments (for example, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs) that will be charged against earnings over the life of the debt instruments to which such costs pertain. Such amount is before the consideration of accumulated amortization.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=aiv_Expectedtobeincurred2015to2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=aiv_Expectedtobeincurred2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: