Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Total Aimco Equity	Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships	Common Noncontrolling Interests In Aimco Operating Partnership
Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,655,753	$ 125,000	$ 1,524	$ 3,900,090	$ 3,603	$ (2,367,073)	$ 1,663,144	$ (1,716)	$ (5,675)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		5,000	152,435
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	50,151								50,151
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(8,458)								(8,458)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	7,521			6,285			6,285		1,236
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			21
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities	(10,101)			(18,137)			(18,137)		8,036
Other, net	119		$ 2	122		(5)	119
Other, net (in shares)			136
Net income	700,958					658,820	658,820	8,045	34,093
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	1,319				1,247		1,247		72
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(179,351)					(179,351)	(179,351)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(6,445)					(6,445)	(6,445)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(17,336)							(7,934)	(9,402)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2018	2,194,130	$ 125,000	$ 1,526	3,888,360	4,850	(1,894,054)	2,125,682	(1,605)	70,053
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		5,000	152,592
Balances at Jun. 30, 2018	1,654,785	$ 125,000	$ 1,526	3,887,308	3,208	(2,402,101)	1,614,941	(2,984)	42,828
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		5,000	152,592
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(847)								(847)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	2,260			1,804			1,804		456
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(753)			(753)		753
Other, net	(2)			1		(3)	(2)
Net income	601,983					569,991	569,991	1,794	30,198
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	1,736				1,642		1,642		94
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(59,793)					(59,793)	(59,793)
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(2,148)					(2,148)	(2,148)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,844)							(415)	(3,429)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2018	2,194,130	$ 125,000	$ 1,526	3,888,360	4,850	(1,894,054)	2,125,682	(1,605)	70,053
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		5,000	152,592
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	1,763,641	$ 125,000	$ 1,446	3,515,686	4,794	(1,947,507)	1,699,419	(2,967)	67,189
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		5,000	144,623
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common Stock	(20,682)		$ (5)	(20,677)			(20,682)
Repurchases of Common Stock (in shares)			(461)
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(125,000)	$ (125,000)		4,089		(4,089)	(125,000)
Redemption of Preferred Stock (in shares)		(5,000)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	3,034								3,034
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(4,958)		$ 2	6,242			6,244		(11,202)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units (in shares)			127
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	7,182			4,795			4,795		2,387
Amortization of share-based compensation cost (in shares)			22
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(12,123)			(12,123)	3,357	8,766
Contribution from noncontrolling interest inconsolidated real estate partnerships	4,911							4,911
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships	(3,780)							(3,780)
Other, net	(98)		$ 1	(118)			(117)	19
Other, net (in shares)			82
Net income	359,461					340,571	340,571	103	18,787
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(325)				(306)		(306)		(19)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(183,579)					(183,579)	(183,579)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend	(516)		$ 45	(561)			(516)
Common Stock issued to Common Stockholders in special dividend (in shares)			4,492
Cash dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders	(3,247)					(3,247)	(3,247)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,970)							(143)	(9,827)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2019	1,786,074		$ 1,489	3,497,333	4,488	(1,797,851)	1,705,459	1,500	79,115
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			148,885
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	1,842,866		$ 1,488	3,498,629	4,866	(1,741,765)	1,763,218	(2,718)	82,366
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			148,827
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(826)		$ 1	2,820			2,821		(3,647)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units (in shares)			57
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	1,958			1,163			1,163		795
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(5,104)			(5,104)	2,315	2,789
Contribution from noncontrolling interest inconsolidated real estate partnerships	4,911							4,911
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships	(2,863)							(2,863)
Other, net	(175)			(175)			(175)
Other, net (in shares)			1
Net income	2,037					1,979	1,979	(58)	116
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(402)				(378)		(378)		(24)
Cash dividends paid to Common Stockholders	(58,065)					(58,065)	(58,065)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,367)							(87)	(3,280)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,786,074		$ 1,489	$ 3,497,333	$ 4,488	$ (1,797,851)	$ 1,705,459	$ 1,500	$ 79,115
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			148,885