Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Total Aimco Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,144,674	$ 657,114	$ 1,209	$ 3,098,333	$ (6,860)	$ (2,841,467)	$ 908,329	$ 236,345
Beginning Balances, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011		24,906,000	120,916,000
Issuance of Preferred Stock, Shares		405,000
Issuance of Preferred Stock	9,818	10,039					9,818
Issuance of Preferred Stock (issue costs)				(221)
Redemption of Preferred Stock, Shares		(24,037,000)
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(600,938)	(599,039)					(600,938)
Redemption of Preferred Stock (recognition of previously deferred issuance costs)				20,727		(22,626)
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares			22,144,000
Issuance of Common Stock	594,379		221	594,158			594,379
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(11,079)							(11,079)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost, Shares			36,000
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	5,223			5,223			5,223
Exercises of stock options, Shares			2,254,000
Exercises of stock options	48,907		24	48,883			48,907
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,928							2,928
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(53,240)			(54,799)			(54,799)	1,559
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,433				3,318		3,318	115
Other, net, shares			214,000
Other, net	4,547		2	380		(380)	2	4,545
Net income (loss)	188,865					132,456	132,456	56,409
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(51,353)							(51,353)
Common Stock dividends	(104,006)					(104,006)	(104,006)
Preferred Stock dividends	(27,264)					(27,264)	(27,264)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	1,154,894	68,114	1,456	3,712,684	(3,542)	(2,863,287)	915,425	239,469
Ending Balances, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012		1,274,000	145,564,000
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(3,085)							(3,085)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost, Shares			33,000
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	5,915			5,915			5,915
Exercises of stock options, Shares			44,000
Exercises of stock options	993		0	993			993
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,630							1,630
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(17,675)			(19,805)			(19,805)	2,130
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(776)				(1,060)		(1,060)	284
Other, net, shares			276,000
Other, net	2,248		3	1,552			1,555	693
Net income (loss)	231,402					207,290	207,290	24,112
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(59,946)							(59,946)
Common Stock dividends	(140,052)					(140,052)	(140,052)
Preferred Stock dividends	(2,804)					(2,804)	(2,804)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	1,172,744	68,114	1,459	3,701,339	(4,602)	(2,798,853)	967,457	205,287
Ending Balances, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013		1,274,000	145,917,000
Issuance of Preferred Stock, Shares		5,117,000
Issuance of Preferred Stock	123,552	128,012					123,552
Issuance of Preferred Stock (issue costs)				(4,460)
Redemption of Preferred Stock, Shares		0
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(9,516)	(10,000)					(9,516)
Redemption of Preferred Stock (recognition of previously deferred issuance costs)				257		227
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	(7,756)							(7,756)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost, Shares			33,000
Amortization of share-based compensation cost	6,139			6,139			6,139
Exercises of stock options, Shares			303,000
Exercises of stock options	768		3	765			768
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	11,559							11,559
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	712			(8,097)			(8,097)	8,809
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,813)				(1,854)		(1,854)	41
Other, net, shares			150,000
Other, net	181		2	200			202	(21)
Net income (loss)	349,614					309,249	309,249	40,365
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(43,914)							(43,914)
Common Stock dividends	(151,991)					(151,991)	(151,991)
Preferred Stock dividends	(8,174)					(8,174)	(8,174)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,442,105	$ 186,126	$ 1,464	$ 3,696,143	$ (6,456)	$ (2,649,542)	$ 1,227,735	$ 214,370
Ending Balances, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014		6,391,000	146,403,000