Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Other Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing costs, net	$ 30,320us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet	$ 36,641us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Investments in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	16,046us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	16,930us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Investments in securitization trust that holds Aimco property debt	61,043us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	58,408us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Intangible assets, net	49,441	50,025
Deferred tax asset, net (Note 8)	252us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	30,353us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Assets related to the legacy asset management business (Note 3)	161,135	163,849
Prepaid expenses, accounts and notes receivable, deposits and other	158,490us-gaap_OtherAssetsMiscellaneous	149,210us-gaap_OtherAssetsMiscellaneous
Other assets per consolidated balance sheets	$ 476,727us-gaap_OtherAssets	$ 505,416us-gaap_OtherAssets

Total assets related to legally sold portfolio

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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For an unclassified balance sheet, the carrying amount (net of accumulated amortization) as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments (for example, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs) that will be charged against earnings over the life of the debt instruments to which such costs pertain.

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Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

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This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets are assets, not including financial assets, lacking physical substance.

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The aggregate carrying amounts, as of the balance sheet date, of assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

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Amount of other miscellaneous assets.

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