Derivatives and Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative [Line Items]
Credit Risk Related Contingent Features Termination Value	$ 200,000
Derivative Collateral	100.00%maa_DerivativeCollateral
Derivative Collateral Posted	0maa_DerivativeCollateralPosted
Credit Default Option [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Credit Risk Related Contingent Features Termination Value	15,800,000
Termination
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of Credit Risk Derivatives	15,000,000
Net Liability Position [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Credit Risk Related Contingent Features Termination Value	16,000,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Caps
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Number of Instruments Held	6
Derivative, Notional Amount	165,000,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Number of Instruments Held	8
Derivative, Notional Amount	575,000,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Expense
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness	(60,000)	(4,000)
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives included in AOCI and expected to be reclassified in the next 12 months	$ 5,500,000

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

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- Definition

Credit Risk Related Contingent Features, Termination Value

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Derivative Collateral

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Derivative Collateral Posted

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fair value of liability associated with financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226003-175313

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624163-113959

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- Definition

The estimated value of gains (losses), net anticipated to be transferred in the future from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5579245-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

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- Definition

The loss recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959

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