Number of Development Properties

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- Definition

Number Of Properties Acquired

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of Units Acquired in Real Estate Property

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Property Held for Development

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Operating Partnership Units, Outstanding

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of Consolidated Rental Revenue Generated by the Operating Partnership

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage Of Ownership Interests

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived assets under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

The number of general partner units outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

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-Section F

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 87-21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the LLC or LP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)

-Number 14

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 272

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- Definition

The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 87-21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher AICPA

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- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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Consolidation and Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Property States	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units under development community	774
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	151
Number of apartments included in a community	44,547
Capital improvements in progress	$ 51,016		$ 50,844
Number of Development Properties	3
Number of states in which apartment units are located	12
Operating partnership units outstanding	41,796,045	40,390,861
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	40,088,385	38,455,153	39,721,461
Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest	95.90%	95.20%
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,707,660	1,935,708	1,731,672
Percentage of Consolidated Rental Revenue Generated by the Operating Partnership	90.00%	89.50%
Development Properties [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	2
Number of apartments included in a community	106
Mid America Multifamily Fund I, LLC
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number Of Properties Acquired	1
Number Of Units Acquired In Real Estate Property	316
Mid America Multifamily Fund II, LLC
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number Of Properties Acquired	4
Number Of Units Acquired In Real Estate Property	1,156
Under Development
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	4
Square Footage of Real Estate Property	107,000
Expected Costs [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Capital improvements in progress	101,300
Costs Incurred to Date [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Capital improvements in progress	$ 56,300
Minimum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests	70.00%
Maximum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests	100.00%