Organization (Details)			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 PartnershipUnit Property	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member] Property	Dec. 31, 2011 Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member] Property
Real Estate Property [Line Items]
Number of owned real estate properties in segments			198	172
Number of units in owned real estate properties in segments			62,834	20,612
Number of consolidated properties	2		192	139
Number of units in consolidated real estate properties	79,093		61,388	17,705
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment			87.00%	13.00%
Organization (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of units for which asset or property management services were provided	10,248
Number of properties for which asset or property management services were provided	148
Aimco's ownership interest in AIMCO Properties, L.P.	93.60%
Shares of common stock outstanding	120,916,294	117,642,872
Common OP units and equivalents of the Aimco Operating Partnership	129,153,692
Total shares of common stock and common OP units outstanding	120,916,294