Earnings (Loss) per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations	$ (43,440,000)	$ (38,266,000)	$ (73,851,000)	$ (73,958,000)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	11,369,000	10,183,000	18,425,000	9,892,000
Income attributable to preferred stockholders	(9,672,000)	(10,128,000)	(22,128,000)	(23,050,000)
Income attributable to participating securities	(54,000)	(42,000)	(111,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders	(41,797,000)	(38,253,000)	(77,665,000)	(87,116,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net	16,469,000	28,096,000	19,603,000	47,028,000
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,849,000)	(7,838,000)	(6,888,000)	(18,305,000)
Income from discontinued operations attributable Aimco common stockholders	8,620,000	20,258,000	12,715,000	28,723,000
Net loss	(26,971,000)	(10,170,000)	(54,248,000)	(26,930,000)
Loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,520,000	2,345,000	11,537,000	(8,413,000)
Net income attributable to Aimco preferred stockholders	(9,672,000)	(10,128,000)	(22,128,000)	(23,050,000)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(54,000)	(42,000)	(111,000)
Net loss attributable to Aimco common stockholders	(33,177,000)	(17,995,000)	(64,950,000)	(58,393,000)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding	119,156,000	116,323,000	118,238,000	116,179,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive potential common shares	0	0	0	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share	119,156,000	116,323,000	118,238,000	116,179,000
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders	$ (0.35)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.75)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders	$ 0.07	$ 0.18	$ 0.11	$ 0.25
Net loss attributable to Aimco common stockholders	$ (0.28)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.55)	$ (0.50)
Earnings (Loss) per Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Common share equivalents that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in future periods			6,900,000	7,200,000
Participating securities			500,000	600,000
Preferred OP Units, Distributions, Low Range	1.80%		1.80%
Preferred OP Units, Distributions, High Range	8.80%		8.80%
Preferred OP Units outstanding	3,100,000		3,100,000
Redemption value of Preferred OP Units outstanding	$ 82,500,000		$ 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	3,200,000		3,200,000