Other Significant Transactions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 PartnershipUnit Property Market	Sep. 30, 2010
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock					$ 72,012,000
Net proceeds to Aimco from sale of preferred stock					19,028,000	96,110,000
Redemption value of Preferred Stock redeemed					(18,567,000)
Other Significant Transactions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal amount of debt scheduled to maturity between 2012 and 2016 repaid through a series of financing transactions completed during the period	625,700,000
Total amount of new loans	673,800,000				673,800,000
Proceeds from series of financing transactions that repaid non-recourse property loans scheduled to mature between 2012 and 2016		334,600,000	120,600,000	218,600,000
Total purchase under securitization transaction	51,500,000				51,534,000
Face value of investments in debt securities classified as available for sale	100,900,000				100,900,000
Term of new loan					10 years
Term of new loan scheduled to amortize					30 years
Losses on extinguishment of debt	23,000,000
Prepayment penalties associated with loans	20,700,000
Write off of deferred loan cost	2,300,000
Total cost of noncontrolling limited partnership interests					13,600,000
Accrued settlement included in total cost of noncontrolling limited partnership interests						0
Percentage of non controlling interests acquired					50.00%
Number of units in real estate contiguous properties					142
Number of real estate contiguous properties					4
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Total number of Common Stock sold	100,000				2,900,000
Gross proceeds from sale of Common Stock	3,000,000				73,600,000
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock	2,800,000				72,000,000
Class Z Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend rate of preferred stock issued	7.00%
Par value of preferred stock issued	$ 0.01				$ 0.01
Class Z Cumulative Preferred Stock issued	823,800				823,800
Net proceeds per share to Aimco	$ 23.11
Per share offering price to the public for preferred stock issued	$ 24.21
Per share amount of underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated transaction costs related to sale of preferred stock	$ 1.10
Net proceeds to Aimco from sale of preferred stock	19,000,000
Class V Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares of Preferred Stock redeemed	862,500
Liquidation preference per share	$ 25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends paid at redemption	200,000
Percentage of class of preferred stock redeemed during period	25.00%
Previously deferred issuance costs recognized as an adjustment of net income attributable to Aimco preferred stockholders	800,000
Redemption value of Preferred Stock redeemed	21,600,000
Newly Acquired Redevelopment Property [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of units in owned real estate properties in segments	126				126
Expected total investment in redevelopment property	$ 65,000,000				$ 65,000,000