Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues
Total property revenues	$ 133,970	$ 118,799	$ 264,037	$ 231,837
Management fee income	142	209	319	478
Total operating revenues	134,112	119,008	264,356	232,315
Net Operating Income	81,664	73,394	162,077	142,910
Discontinued operations NOI included above	(1,446)	(3,319)	(3,189)	(6,775)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,730)	(30,246)	(65,406)	(59,228)
Acquisition credit (expense)	(489)	(865)	(499)	(231)
Property management expense	(5,446)	(5,570)	(10,777)	(11,024)
General and administrative expense	(3,389)	(3,462)	(6,628)	(6,909)
Merger Related Expenses	(5,737)	0	(5,737)	0
Interest and other non-property income	23	112	70	254
Interest expense	(15,271)	(14,073)	(30,906)	(28,058)
Gain on debt extinguishment	0	(15)	(169)	5
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(803)	(869)	(1,607)	(1,640)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	439	2	455	(2)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	47	(67)	101	(98)
Discontinued operations	(44,024)	(14,244)	(44,929)	(24,861)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,939)	(1,312)	(2,764)	(2,490)
Net income attributable to MAA	59,089	28,160	80,269	52,050
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	0	(3)	0	(3)
Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	63,720	60,485
Real Estate Revenue, Net, Adjusted			126,423	119,739
Net Operating Income	37,793	35,376	75,548	69,975
Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	51,964	50,318
Real Estate Revenue, Net, Adjusted			103,306	99,965
Net Operating Income	31,149	29,981	62,198	59,293
Non-Same Store and Other
Revenues
Total property revenues	18,286	7,996
Real Estate Revenue, Net, Adjusted			34,308	12,133
Net Operating Income	$ 12,722	$ 8,037	$ 24,331	$ 13,642