Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]

Equity

Equity

Total equity and its components for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012, and 2011, were as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share and per unit data):

	Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. Shareholders
	Common Stock Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Equity
EQUITY BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2011	$	389	$	1,375,623		$	(621,833	)	$	(35,848	)	$	25,131		$	743,462
Net income						23,890						1,178			25,068
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									4,048			200			4,248
Issuance and registration of common shares	20		120,123												120,143
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,415		)										(1,415		)
Shares issued in exchange for units	—		28									(28		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(293		)							(293		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(3,990		)							3,990			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			814												814
Dividends on common stock ($0.6600 per share)						(27,030		)							(27,030		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6600 per unit)												(1,279		)	(1,279		)
EQUITY BALANCE MARCH 31, 2012	$	409	$	1,491,183		$	(625,266	)	$	(31,800	)	$	29,192		$	863,718

	Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. Shareholders
	Common Stock Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Equity
EQUITY BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2010	$	348	$	1,142,023		$	(575,021	)	$	(48,847	)	$	22,125		$	540,628
Net income						8,844						311			9,155
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									7,208			253			7,461
Issuance and registration of common shares	15		91,402												91,417
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,939		)										(1,939		)
Exercise of stock options	—		26												26
Shares issued in exchange for units	2		2,069									(2,071		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(43		)							(43		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(3,955		)							3,955			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			844												844
Dividends on common stock ($0.6275 per share)						(22,971		)							(22,971		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6275 per unit)												(1,310		)	(1,310		)
EQUITY BALANCE MARCH 31, 2011	$	365	$	1,230,470		$	(589,191	)	$	(41,639	)	$	23,263		$	623,268