Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 123,204	$ 108,959	$ 243,008	$ 212,518
Other property revenues	10,766	9,840	21,029	19,319
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
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	14,735	13,603	29,027	27,151
Building repairs and maintenance	3,953	3,743	7,147	7,333
Real estate taxes and insurance	16,094	13,862	31,720	27,054
Utilities	6,974	6,553	13,677	12,445
Landscaping	2,898	2,593	5,819	5,295
Other operating	9,098	8,370	17,759	16,424
Depreciation and amortization	32,730	30,246	65,406	59,228
Total property operating expenses	86,482	78,970	170,555	154,930
Acquisition (credit) expenses	489	865	499	231
Property management expenses	5,446	5,570	10,777	11,024
General and administrative expenses	3,389	3,462	6,628	6,909
Merger Related Expenses	5,737	0	5,737	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	32,569	30,141	70,160	59,221
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 from continuing operations before loss from real estate joint ventures	16,957	15,295	38,003	29,777
Loss from real estate joint ventures	47	(67)	101	(98)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	17,004	15,228	38,104	29,679
Discontinued operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	907	1,293	1,812	2,535
Net casualty loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	(4)	(2)	(4)	(56)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	43,121	12,953	43,121	22,382
Consolidated net income	61,028	29,472	83,033	54,540
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
Net income available for common shareholders	59,089	28,160	80,269	52,050
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ 0.36	$ 0.86	$ 0.70
Discontinued property operations	$ 1.00	$ 0.33	$ 1.02	$ 0.59
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.38	$ 0.69	$ 1.88	$ 1.29
Earnings per share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ 0.36	$ 0.86	$ 0.70
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.99	$ 0.33	$ 1.01	$ 0.59
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.37	$ 0.69	$ 1.87	$ 1.29
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.6950	$ 0.6600	$ 1.39	$ 1.32
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	$ 0	$ (3)	$ 0	$ (3)