MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Land	$ 904,504	$ 913,408
Buildings and improvements	6,705,727	6,781,210
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	214,943	214,742
Development and capital improvements in progress	69,975	80,772
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	7,895,149	7,990,132
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,338,726)	(1,358,400)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	6,556,423	6,631,732
Undeveloped land	52,629	55,997
Corporate properties, net	8,331	7,988
Investments in real estate joint ventures	1,809	1,791
Assets held for sale	64,265	0
Real estate assets, net	6,683,457	6,697,508
Cash and cash equivalents	30,030	26,653
Restricted cash	53,406	28,181
Deferred financing costs, net	12,764	17,812
Other assets	62,149	61,119
Goodwill	1,607	2,321
Total assets	6,843,413	6,833,594
Liabilities:
Secured notes payable	1,413,793	1,592,116
Unsecured notes payable	2,028,451	1,932,399
Accounts payable	11,884	8,395
Fair market value of interest rate swaps	13,071	13,392
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	215,134	219,044
Security deposits	11,281	10,526
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	1,216	0
Total liabilities	3,694,830	3,775,872
Redeemable stock	6,298	5,911
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	754	752
Additional paid-in capital	3,622,323	3,619,270
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(647,413)	(729,086)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	952	(412)
Total MAA shareholders' equity	2,976,616	2,890,524
Noncontrolling interest	165,669	161,287
Total equity	3,142,285	3,051,811
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,843,413	$ 6,833,594
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	86,495	87,818