MAA Summary of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (Parent Company [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental revenues	$ 795	$ 2,295	$ 2,384	$ 11,830
Other revenues	(2)	243	(7)	1,088
Total revenues	793	2,538	2,377	12,918
Property operating expenses	256	1,132	856	5,496
Depreciation and amortization	0	342	42	2,553
Interest expense and other	49	92	126	418
Total expenses	305	1,566	1,024	8,467
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	488	972	1,353	4,451
Net loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	3	(1)	0	(5)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(103)	28,788	5,378	71,909
Income from discontinued operations	388	29,759	6,731	76,355
Continuing Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Attributable to MAA	66,609	15,665	107,083	50,761
Attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,722	632	6,005	1,973
Income from continuing operations	70,331	16,297	113,088	52,734
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Attributable to MAA	367	28,619	6,372	73,792
Attributable to noncontrolling interest	21	1,140	359	2,563
Income from discontinued operations	$ 388	$ 29,759	$ 6,731	$ 76,355