Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Property Entity Unit	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Property Entity Unit
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract]
Net real estate	$ 5,719,000	$ 5,723,475
Cash and cash equivalents	33,958	36,858
Restricted cash	31,949	35,737
Other Assets	455,897	351,541
Non-recourse property debt secured by Aimco communities, net	3,702,487	3,915,305
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 299,313	$ 226,230
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of consolidated variable interest entities | Entity	7	9
Number of apartment communities | Property	7	9
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Unit	3,183	3,592
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities, Net [Abstract]
Net real estate	$ 405,174	$ 488,127
Cash and cash equivalents	7,618	15,416
Restricted cash	3,106	4,461
Other Assets	27,144	3,973
Non-recourse property debt secured by Aimco communities, net	177,825	322,685
Accrued liabilities and other	$ 35,946	$ 13,576