Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component
	Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements Of Operations	Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
		For the nine months ended September 30,
		2013			2012
Beginning balance		$	(26,054	)	$	(35,848	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		10,096			(8,197		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (interest rate contracts)	Interest (income)/expense	12,098			15,308
Net current-period other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(739		)	(1,730		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income attributable to MAA		21,455			5,381
Ending balance		$	(4,599	)	$	(30,467	)

Outstanding Interest Rate Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

As of September 30, 2013, we had the following outstanding interest rate derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk:

Interest Rate Derivative	Number of Instruments	Notional
Interest Rate Caps	12	$	224,631,000
Interest Rate Swaps (1)	18	$	559,000,000

Schedule of Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location [Table Text Block]

As of September 30, 2013, we had the following outstanding interest rate derivatives that were not designated as hedges:

Interest Rate Derivative	Number of Instruments	Notional
Interest rate caps	11	$	63,820,000

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments on Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

	Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012			September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Fair Value
Interest rate contracts	Other assets	$	10,681	$	245	Fair market value of interest rate swaps	$	9,858	$	21,423
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	10,681	$	245		$	9,858	$	21,423
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate contracts	Other assets	$	57	$	43		$	—	$	—
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	57	$	43		$	—	$	—

Offsetting of Derivative Assets
As of September 30, 2013
						Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position	Net Amounts of Assets presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received	Net Amount
Derivatives	$	10,738	—	$	10,738	$	(866	)	—	$	9,872
Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities
As of September 30, 2013
						Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position	Net Amounts of Liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Posted	Net Amount
Derivatives	$	9,858	—	$	9,858	$	(866	)	—	$	8,992
Offsetting of Derivative Assets
As of December 31, 2012
						Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position	Net Amounts of Assets presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received	Net Amount
Derivatives	$	288	—	$	288	—			—	$	288
Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities
As of December 31, 2012
						Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position	Net Amounts of Liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Posted	Net Amount
Derivatives	$	21,423	—	$	21,423	—			—	$	21,423

Effect of Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Statement of Operations

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of  Gain or (Loss) Recognized in  OCI on Derivative  (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified  from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of   Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated  OCI into Income  (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)	Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
Three months ended September 30,	2013			2012				2013			2012				2013			2012
Interest rate contracts	$	(1,826	)	$	(2,903	)	Interest expense	$	(3,621	)	$	(4,815	)	Interest expense	$	(1	)	$	(7	)
Total derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships	$	(1,826	)	$	(2,903	)		$	(3,621	)	$	(4,815	)		$	(1	)	$	(7	)
Nine months ended September 30,
Interest rate contracts	$	10,096		$	(8,197	)	Interest expense	$	(12,098	)	$	(15,308	)	Interest expense	$	26		$	(40	)
Total derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships	$	10,096		$	(8,197	)		$	(12,098	)	$	(15,308	)		$	26		$	(40	)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Three months ended September 30,														Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income	2013			2012
Interest rate contracts														Interest expense	$	(5	)	$	(25	)
Total															$	(5	)	$	(25	)
Nine months ended September 30,
Interest rate contracts														Interest expense	$	(8	)	$	(58	)
Total															$	(8	)	$	(58	)