Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 356,111	$ 237,825	$ 195,361
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	282,608	291,910	325,173
Provision for real estate impairment losses	1,820	0	6,235
Other, net	829	(2,723)	(17,478)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	(288,636)	0	0
Income tax benefit	(20,047)	(1,959)	(858)
Share-based compensation expense	5,781	5,645	4,871
Amortization of deferred loan costs and other	3,814	4,915	5,044
Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization	0	16,372	41,577
Gain on disposition of real estate	0	(212,459)	(234,530)
Other adjustments to income from discontinued operations	0	10,019	27,854
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	9,039	4,592	30,716
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	(29,895)	(28,541)	(67,138)
Total adjustments	(34,687)	87,771	121,466
Net cash provided by operating activities	321,424	325,596	316,827
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(284,041)	(51,291)	(89,716)
Capital expenditures	(367,324)	(350,338)	(270,210)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	640,044	357,314	484,904
Purchases of corporate assets	(8,479)	(10,863)	(7,818)
Purchase of West Harlem first mortgage property loans	0	119,101	0
Proceeds from repayment of West Harlem property loans and option value	0	215,517	0
Proceeds from sales of and distributions from unconsolidated real estate partnerships	0	0	31,192
Changes in restricted cash	26,315	3,003	(22,886)
Other investing activities	7,163	20,951	(13,799)
Net cash provided by investing activities	13,678	65,192	111,667
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt	188,503	232,965	243,253
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt	(513,599)	(472,276)	(447,792)
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility	61,930	50,400	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock or units	0	0	594,379
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	123,551	0	0
Redemptions and repurchases of preferred stock or units	(9,516)	0	(600,938)
Proceeds from Common Stock option exercises	768	993	48,907
Payment of dividends to holders of preferred stock or units	(7,073)	(2,804)	(37,019)
Payment of dividends to holders of Common Stock	(152,002)	(140,052)	(104,006)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(49,972)	(63,766)	(57,849)
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	0	(16,775)	(57,008)
Other financing activities	(4,472)	(8,135)	(17,074)
Net cash used in financing activities	(361,882)	(419,450)	(435,147)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(26,780)	(28,662)	(6,653)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	55,751	84,413	91,066
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	28,971	55,751	84,413
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid	231,887	273,635	294,423
Cash paid for income taxes	1,657	629	1,056
Non-cash transactions associated with the acquisition or disposition of real estate:
Non-recourse property debt assumed in connection with our acquisition of real estate	65,200	14,767	38,779
Non-recourse property debt assumed by buyer in connection with our disposition of real estate	58,410	126,663	208,134
Non-recourse, subordinate debt of the disposed legacy asset management business forgiven in connection with the disposition of real estate	0	8,149	15,019
Issuance of preferred OP Units in connection with acquisition of real estate	9,117	0	0
Other non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common OP Units for acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	0	416	4,553
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	356,111	237,825	195,361
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	282,608	291,910	325,173
Provision for real estate impairment losses	1,820	0	6,235
Other, net	829	(2,723)	(17,478)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax	(288,636)	0	0
Income tax benefit	(20,047)	(1,959)	(858)
Share-based compensation expense	5,781	5,645	4,871
Amortization of deferred loan costs and other	3,814	4,915	5,044
Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization	0	16,372	41,577
Gain on disposition of real estate	0	(212,459)	(234,530)
Other adjustments to income from discontinued operations	0	10,019	27,854
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	9,039	4,592	30,716
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	(29,895)	(28,541)	(67,138)
Total adjustments	(34,687)	87,771	121,466
Net cash provided by operating activities	321,424	325,596	316,827
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate partnerships	(284,041)	(51,291)	(89,716)
Capital expenditures	(367,324)	(350,338)	(270,210)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	640,044	357,314	484,904
Purchases of corporate assets	(8,479)	(10,863)	(7,818)
Purchase of West Harlem first mortgage property loans	0	119,101	0
Proceeds from repayment of West Harlem property loans and option value	0	215,517	0
Proceeds from sales of and distributions from unconsolidated real estate partnerships	0	0	31,192
Changes in restricted cash	26,315	3,003	(22,886)
Other investing activities	7,163	20,951	(13,799)
Net cash provided by investing activities	13,678	65,192	111,667
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt	188,503	232,965	243,253
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt	(513,599)	(472,276)	(447,792)
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility	61,930	50,400	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock or units	0	0	594,379
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	123,551	0
Redemptions and repurchases of preferred stock or units	(9,516)	0	(600,938)
Proceeds from Common Stock option exercises	768	993	48,907
Payment of dividends to holders of preferred stock or units	(13,482)	(9,227)	(43,515)
Payment of distributions to General Partner and Special Limited Partner	(152,002)	(140,052)	(104,006)
Payment of distributions to Limited Partners	(8,008)	(7,642)	(6,153)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(35,555)	(49,701)	(45,200)
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	0	(16,775)	(57,008)
Other financing activities	(4,472)	(8,135)	(17,074)
Net cash used in financing activities	(361,882)	(419,450)	(435,147)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(26,780)	(28,662)	(6,653)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	55,751	84,413	91,066
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	28,971	55,751	84,413
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid	231,887	273,635	294,423
Cash paid for income taxes	1,657	629	1,056
Non-cash transactions associated with the acquisition or disposition of real estate:
Non-recourse property debt assumed in connection with our acquisition of real estate	65,200	14,767	38,779
Non-recourse property debt assumed by buyer in connection with our disposition of real estate	58,410	126,663	208,134
Non-recourse, subordinate debt of the disposed legacy asset management business forgiven in connection with the disposition of real estate	0	8,149	15,019
Other non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common OP Units for acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	$ 0	$ 416	$ 4,553