Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues
Total property revenues	$ 136,294	$ 122,981	$ 397,787	$ 352,307
Management fee income	146	209	465	687
Total operating revenues	136,440	123,190	398,252	352,994
Net Operating Income	80,978	74,531	243,052	217,441
Discontinued operations NOI included above	(837)	(2,839)	(5,655)	(11,198)
Depreciation and amortization	(33,000)	(30,979)	(97,883)	(89,701)
Acquisition credit (expense)	0	(1,343)	(499)	(1,574)
Property management expense	(5,193)	(5,460)	(15,970)	(16,484)
General and administrative expense	(3,976)	(3,527)	(10,604)	(10,436)
Merger Related Expenses	(5,561)	0	(11,298)	0
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	(35)	0	(35)	0
Interest and other non-property income	16	89	86	343
Interest expense	(14,941)	(14,530)	(45,715)	(42,428)
Gain on debt extinguishment	(218)	0	(387)	5
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(820)	(971)	(2,427)	(2,611)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	0	(22)	455	(24)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	60	(72)	161	(170)
Discontinued operations	(29,437)	(16,944)	(75,343)	(42,723)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,772)	(1,212)	(4,536)	(3,702)
Net income attributable to MAA	44,284	30,866	124,553	82,916
Loss on sale of non-depreciable assets	0	48	0	45
Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	64,823	61,707	191,246	181,446
Net Operating Income	38,159	35,700	113,707	105,675
Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues	52,344	50,904	155,650	150,869
Net Operating Income	30,349	29,816	92,547	89,109
Non-Same Store and Other
Revenues
Total property revenues	19,127	10,370	50,891	19,992
Net Operating Income	$ 12,470	$ 9,015	$ 36,798	$ 22,657