Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Information
Total operating revenues	$ 269,016	$ 258,552
Net Operating Income	168,135	157,903
Depreciation and amortization	(75,127)	(73,112)
Acquisition expense	(713)	(339)
Property management expense	(9,004)	(8,492)
General and administrative expense	(6,582)	(6,567)
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	32	(210)
Interest expense	(32,211)	(30,848)
Loss on debt extinguishment	3	(3,376)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	755	30,228
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(947)	(19)
Income tax expense	(288)	(510)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	1,627	0
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	128	19
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,395)	(3,410)
Net income attributable to MAA	43,413	61,267
Large Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	158,721	149,826
Net Operating Income	98,079	91,370
Secondary Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	83,593	79,919
Net Operating Income	53,173	49,909
Non-Same Store and Other
Segment Information
Total property revenues	26,702	28,807
Net Operating Income	$ 16,883	$ 16,624