MAA Summary of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (Parent Company [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gains on Sales of Investment Real Estate	$ 3,600,000			$ 6,800,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental Revenues	757,000		4,528,000	1,589,000		9,535,000
Other Revenue (Expense) from Real Estate Operations	0		406,000	(5,000)		845,000
Total Revenues	757,000		4,934,000	1,584,000		10,380,000
Property Operating Expenses	286,000		2,108,000	600,000		4,364,000
Depreciation	0		974,000	42,000		2,211,000
Interest Expense and Other	22,000		155,000	77,000		326,000
Total expense	308,000		3,237,000	719,000		6,901,000
Discontinued Operation, Income from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	449,000		1,697,000	865,000		3,479,000
Discontinued Operation, Amount of Other Loss from Disposition of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(1,000)		(4,000)	(3,000)		(4,000)
Discontinued Operation, Gain on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0		43,121,000	5,481,000		43,121,000
Income from Discontinued Operations Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	448,000		44,814,000	6,343,000		46,596,000
Continuing Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	31,189,000	[1]	15,634,000	40,474,000	[1]	35,096,000
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,749,000		580,000	2,283,000		1,341,000
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	32,938,000		16,214,000	42,757,000		36,437,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	424,000		43,455,000	6,005,000		45,173,000
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,000		1,359,000	338,000		1,423,000
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 448,000		$ 44,814,000	$ 6,343,000		$ 46,596,000

[1] (1) The three and six month periods ended June 30, 2014 include $3.6 million and $6.8 million of gains related to the sale of real estate which are not included in continuing operations on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations