Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues
Total property revenues	$ 123,713	$ 106,938	$ 241,617	$ 210,278
Management fee income	209	263	478	486
Total operating revenues	123,922	107,201	242,095	210,764
Net Operating Income	73,395	62,966	142,911	124,481
Discontinued operations NOI included above	(590)	(1,750)	(1,374)	(3,586)
Depreciation and amortization	(31,549)	(27,280)	(61,821)	(54,140)
Acquisition credit (expense)	(865)	(1,520)	(231)	(1,739)
Property management expense	(5,570)	(5,194)	(11,024)	(10,338)
General and administrative expense	(3,462)	(5,439)	(6,909)	(10,049)
Interest and other non-property income	112	114	254	459
Interest expense	(14,270)	(13,945)	(28,486)	(27,704)
Gain on debt extinguishment	(15)	(48)	5	(48)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(869)	(707)	(1,640)	(1,422)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	2	(265)	(2)	(406)
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	(3)	22	(3)	16
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(67)	(178)	(98)	(423)
Discontinued operations	(13,014)	(641)	(22,480)	(1,248)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,312)	(252)	(2,490)	(563)
Net income attributable to MAA	28,160	7,428	52,050	16,272
Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	56,133	53,014	111,140	105,284
Net Operating Income	32,748	30,401	64,846	60,677
Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	47,955	46,510	95,455	92,366
Net Operating Income	28,224	26,829	56,007	53,881
Non-Same Store and Other
Revenues
Total property revenues	19,625	7,414	35,022	12,628
Net Operating Income	$ 12,423	$ 5,736	$ 22,058	$ 9,923