Income Taxes - (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of income tax attributable to continuing and discontinued operations
Tax at United States statutory rates on consolidated income or loss subject to tax	$ 47,950		$ 16,326		$ 6,642
Tax at U.S. statutory rates on consolidated income or loss subject to tax, percentage	35.00%		35.00%		35.00%
State income tax expense (benefit), net of Federal tax (benefit) expense	4,364		1,748		1,859
State income tax expense (benefit), net of Federal tax (benefit), percentage	3.20%		3.70%		9.80%
Effect of permanent differences	(154)		(296)		(256)
Effect of permanent differences, percentage	(0.10%)		(0.60%)		(1.30%)
Tax effect of intercompany transfers of assets between the REIT and taxable REIT subsidiaries (1)	(23,969)	[1]	(4,272)	[1]	730	[1]
Tax effect of intercompany transfers of assets between the REIT and taxable REIT subsidiaries, percentage (1)	(17.50%)	[1]	(9.20%)	[1]	3.80%	[1]
Tax credits	(12,271)		(4,137)		0
Tax credits, percentage	(9.00%)		(8.90%)		0.00%
Increase in valuation allowance	91		0		0
Increase in valuation allowance, percentage	0.10%		0.00%		0.00%
Total expense (benefit)	$ 16,011		$ 9,369		$ 8,975
Reconciliation of income tax, percentage	11.70%		20.00%		47.30%

[1] Includes the effect of intercompany asset transfers between the Aimco Operating Partnership and TRS entities, for which tax is deferred and recognized as the assets affect GAAP income or loss, for example, through depreciation, impairment, or upon the sale of the asset to a third party.