Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 116,968		$ 101,004	$ 335,091		$ 289,630
Other property revenues	9,933		9,052	28,965		26,354
Total property revenues	126,901		110,056	364,056		315,984
Management fee income	209		265	687		751
Total operating revenues	127,110		110,321	364,743		316,735
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	14,714		13,366	42,639		38,428
Building repairs and maintenance	4,503		4,401	12,130		10,978
Real estate taxes and insurance	14,595		12,403	42,313		36,163
Utilities	7,658		7,084	20,461		18,778
Landscaping	2,781		2,647	8,304		7,763
Other operating	8,581		8,081	24,724		22,917
Depreciation and amortization	31,984		28,052	92,687		81,103
Total property operating expenses	84,816		76,034	243,258		216,130
Acquisition (credit) expenses	1,343		592	1,574		2,331
Property management expenses	5,460		4,904	16,484		15,242
General and administrative expenses	3,527		3,996	10,436		14,045
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	31,964		24,795	92,991		68,987
Interest and other non-property income	89		140	343		599
Interest expense	(14,698)		(15,183)	(42,978)		(42,681)
Gain on debt extinguishment	0		(63)	5		(111)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(971)		(724)	(2,611)		(2,146)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	(22)		(286)	(24)		(692)
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	48		147	45		163
Income from continuing operations before loss from real estate joint ventures	16,410		8,826	47,771		24,119
Loss from real estate joint ventures	(72)		(107)	(170)		(530)
Income from continuing operations	16,338		8,719	47,601		23,589
Discontinued operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	(451)		805	500		2,777
Net casualty loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	99		0	43		(7)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	16,092		4,927	38,474		4,927
Consolidated net income	32,078		14,451	86,618		31,286
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,212	[1]	660	3,702	[1]	1,223
Net income attributable to MAA	30,866		13,791	82,916		30,063
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 30,866		$ 13,791	$ 82,916		$ 30,063
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.36		$ 0.22	$ 1.08		$ 0.61
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.38		$ 0.15	$ 0.96		$ 0.21
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.74		$ 0.37	$ 2.04		$ 0.82
Earnings per share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.38		$ 0.22	$ 1.11		$ 0.61
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.36		$ 0.15	$ 0.92		$ 0.20
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.74		$ 0.37	$ 2.03		$ 0.81
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.6600		$ 0.6275	$ 1.9800		$ 1.8825

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