Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 113,783	$ 97,996	$ 222,111	$ 192,517
Other property revenues	9,930	8,942	19,506	17,761
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
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	14,322	13,134	28,634	25,783
Building repairs and maintenance	4,014	3,619	7,864	6,798
Real estate taxes and insurance	14,420	12,182	28,151	24,214
Utilities	6,933	6,148	13,162	12,031
Landscaping	2,760	2,634	5,639	5,238
Other operating	8,459	8,005	16,630	15,319
Depreciation and amortization	31,549	27,280	61,821	54,140
Total property operating expenses	82,457	73,002	161,901	143,523
Acquisition (credit) expenses	865	1,520	231	1,739
Property management expenses	5,570	5,194	11,024	10,338
General and administrative expenses	3,462	5,439	6,909	10,049
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	31,568	22,046	62,030	45,115
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 from continuing operations before loss from real estate joint ventures	16,525	7,217	32,158	16,010
Loss from real estate joint ventures	(67)	(178)	(98)	(423)
Income from continuing operations	16,458	7,039	32,060	15,587
Discontinued operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	63	641	154	1,255
Discontinued Operation, Asset Impairment	0	0	(71)	0
Net casualty loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	(2)	0	(56)	(7)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	12,953	0	22,453	0
Consolidated net income	29,472	7,680	54,540	16,835
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
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 28,160	$ 7,428	$ 52,050	$ 16,272
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.18	$ 0.73	$ 0.41
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.32	$ 0.02	$ 0.56	$ 0.04
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.69	$ 0.20	$ 1.29	$ 0.45
Earnings per share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.18	$ 0.73	$ 0.41
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.32	$ 0.02	$ 0.56	$ 0.03
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.69	$ 0.20	$ 1.29	$ 0.44
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.6600	$ 0.6275	$ 1.3200	$ 1.2550