MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Land	$ 931,667,000	$ 926,532,000
Buildings and improvements	6,999,815,000	6,939,288,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	235,054,000	228,157,000
Development and capital improvements in progress	49,476,000	44,355,000
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	8,216,012,000	8,138,332,000
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,554,195,000)	(1,482,368,000)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	6,661,817,000	6,655,964,000
Undeveloped land	43,034,000	51,779,000
Corporate properties, net	8,989,000	8,812,000
Investments in real estate joint ventures	526,000	1,811,000
Real estate assets, net	6,714,366,000	6,718,366,000
Cash and cash equivalents	28,184,000	37,559,000
Restricted cash	21,640,000	26,082,000
Deferred financing costs, net	4,916,000	5,232,000
Other assets	57,208,000	58,935,000
Goodwill	1,607,000	1,607,000
Total assets	6,827,921,000	6,847,781,000
Liabilities:
Unsecured notes payable	2,196,214,000	2,141,332,000
Secured notes payable	1,247,749,000	1,286,236,000
Accounts payable	8,222,000	5,922,000
Fair market value of interest rate swaps	12,257,000	10,358,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	206,781,000	226,237,000
Security deposits	12,052,000	11,623,000
Total liabilities	3,683,275,000	3,681,708,000
Redeemable stock	9,413,000	8,250,000
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	754,000	753,000
Additional paid-in capital	3,627,707,000	3,627,074,000
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(653,756,000)	(634,141,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,976,000)	(1,589,000)
Total MAA shareholders' equity	2,970,729,000	2,992,097,000
Noncontrolling interest	164,504,000	165,726,000
Total equity	3,135,233,000	3,157,823,000
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,827,921,000	$ 6,847,781,000
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	92,777	90,844