Real Estate Dispositions (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Components of income from discontinued operations including portions attributable to Aimco and noncontrolling interests
Rental and other property revenues	$ 4,019	$ 21,695	$ 11,538	$ 47,639
Property operating expenses	(2,169)	(9,590)	(6,288)	(25,910)
Depreciation and amortization	(1,647)	(6,311)	(4,065)	(12,839)
Provision for operating real estate impairment losses	(2,452)	(895)	(6,307)	(8,121)
Operating (loss) income	(2,249)	4,899	(5,122)	769
Interest income	262	101	314	183
Interest expense	(1,009)	(3,881)	(2,602)	(8,308)
(Loss) income before gain on dispositions of real estate and income tax	(2,996)	1,119	(7,410)	(7,356)
Gain on dispositions of real estate	19,716	26,982	27,434	53,321
Income tax (expense) benefit	(251)	(5)	(421)	1,063
Income from discontinued operations, net	16,469	28,096	19,603	47,028
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	(7,196)	(6,383)	(5,943)	(16,241)
Noncontrolling interests in Aimco Operating Partnership	(653)	(1,455)	(945)	(2,064)
Total noncontrolling interests	(7,849)	(7,838)	(6,888)	(18,305)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco	$ 8,620	$ 20,258	$ 12,715	$ 28,723

Components of income from discontinued operations including portions attributable to company and noncontrolling interests.

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Gain (loss) before tax, not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

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Income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, before gain on dispositions of real estate and income tax.

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The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible and intangible assets over the assets' useful lives that is attributable to the disposal group.

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Income attributable to the disposal group that is derived from cash and cash equivalents.

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- Definition

Amount of income or loss from discontinued operations for the period allocated to noncontrolling partners of a limited partnership included in the entity's consolidated financial statements.

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Amount of income or loss from discontinued operations for the period allocated to noncontrolling partners in an operating partnership included in the entity's consolidated financial statements.

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Income loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 43

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-Publisher FASB
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Amount, if any, of interest expense allocated to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 87-24

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Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of operating income or loss attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 47
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- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 27, 28, 29, 30

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- Definition

This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes before deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Publisher SEC
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-Publisher FASB
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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes, which is apportioned to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This item includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group apportioned to the parent that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes after deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
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