Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 122,711	$ 106,342
Other property revenues	10,479	9,675
Total property revenues	133,190	116,017
Management fee income	177	269
Total operating revenues	133,367	116,286
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	14,682	13,946
Building repairs and maintenance	3,335	3,733
Real estate taxes and insurance	15,987	13,524
Utilities	6,867	6,064
Landscaping	3,041	2,822
Other operating	8,865	8,249
Depreciation and amortization	33,433	29,718
Total property operating expenses	86,210	78,056
Acquisition (credit) expenses	10	(634)
Property management expenses	5,331	5,454
General and administrative expenses	3,239	3,447
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	38,577	29,963
Interest and other non-property income	47	142
Interest expense	(15,716)	(14,110)
Gain on debt extinguishment	(169)	20
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(804)	(771)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	16	(4)
Income from continuing operations before loss from real estate joint ventures	21,951	15,240
Loss from real estate joint ventures	54	(31)
Income from continuing operations	22,005	15,209
Discontinued operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	0	484
Net casualty loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	0	(54)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	9,429
Consolidated net income	22,005	25,068
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	825	1,178
Net income attributable to MAA	21,180	23,890
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 21,180	$ 23,890
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.50	$ 0.37
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.23
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.50	$ 0.60
Earnings per share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.50	$ 0.37
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.23
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.50	$ 0.60
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.6950	$ 0.6600