MAA Summary of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (Parent Company [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental revenues	$ 742	$ 832
Other revenues	0	(5)
Total revenues	742	827
Property operating expenses	256	314
Depreciation and amortization	0	42
Interest expense and other	53	55
Total expenses	309	411
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	433	416
Net loss on insurance and other settlement proceeds on discontinued operations	0	(2)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	5,481
Income from discontinued operations	433	5,895
Continuing Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Attributable to MAA	60,857	9,285
Attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,387	534
Income from continuing operations	64,244	9,819
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Attributable to MAA	410	5,581
Attributable to noncontrolling interest	23	314
Income from discontinued operations	$ 433	$ 5,895