MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Land	$ 913,045	$ 913,408
Buildings and improvements	6,842,089	6,781,210
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	223,759	214,742
Development and capital improvements in progress	44,645	80,772
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	8,023,538	7,990,132
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,410,155)	(1,358,400)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	6,613,383	6,631,732
Undeveloped land	51,779	55,997
Corporate properties, net	8,606	7,988
Investments in real estate joint ventures	1,807	1,791
Real estate assets, net	6,675,575	6,697,508
Cash and cash equivalents	44,876	26,653
Restricted cash	89,321	28,181
Deferred financing costs, net	11,901	17,812
Other assets	64,061	61,119
Goodwill	1,607	2,321
Total assets	6,887,341	6,833,594
Liabilities:
Secured notes payable	1,373,654	1,592,116
Unsecured notes payable	2,051,481	1,932,399
Accounts payable	10,509	8,395
Fair market value of interest rate swaps	17,953	13,392
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	243,711	219,044
Security deposits	11,446	10,526
Total liabilities	3,708,754	3,775,872
Redeemable stock	7,266	5,911
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	754	752
Additional paid-in capital	3,623,834	3,619,270
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(614,500)	(729,086)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,306)	(412)
Total MAA shareholders' equity	3,003,782	2,890,524
Noncontrolling interest	167,539	161,287
Total equity	3,171,321	3,051,811
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,887,341	$ 6,833,594
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	88,745	87,818