Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues
Total property revenues	$ 119,362	$ 104,722
Management fee income	269	223
Total operating revenues	119,631	104,945
Net Operating Income	69,516	61,515
Discontinued operations NOI included above	4	(1,122)
Depreciation and amortization	(30,643)	(27,216)
Acquisition credit (expense)	634	(219)
Property management expense	(5,454)	(5,144)
General and administrative expense	(3,447)	(4,610)
Interest and other non-property income	108	235
Interest expense	(14,350)	(13,914)
Gain on debt extinguishment	20	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(771)	(715)
Asset Impairment Charges	0	0
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	(4)	(141)
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	0	(6)
Loss from real estate joint ventures	(31)	(245)
Discontinued operations	(9,217)	(514)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,178)	(311)
Net income attributable to MAA	23,890	8,844
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(31)	(245)
Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	55,007	52,271
Net Operating Income	32,098	30,276
Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	47,500	45,857
Net Operating Income	27,783	27,051
Non-Same Store and Other
Revenues
Total property revenues	16,855	6,594
Net Operating Income	$ 9,635	$ 4,188