MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Land	$ 1,828,637,000	$ 1,816,008,000
Buildings and improvements	10,801,863,000	10,523,762,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	339,039,000	298,204,000
Development and capital improvements in progress	156,938,000	231,224,000
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	13,126,477,000	12,869,198,000
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,967,481,000)	(1,656,071,000)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	11,158,996,000	11,213,127,000
Undeveloped land	57,285,000	71,464,000
Corporate properties, net	12,367,000	12,778,000
Investments in real estate joint ventures	45,096,000	44,493,000
Real Estate Held-for-sale	5,315,000	0
Real estate assets, net	11,279,059,000	11,341,862,000
Cash and cash equivalents	47,851,000	33,536,000
Restricted cash	80,253,000	88,264,000
Deferred financing costs, net	3,906,000	5,065,000
Other assets	120,493,000	134,525,000
Goodwill	1,239,000	1,239,000
Total assets	11,532,801,000	11,604,491,000
Liabilities:
Unsecured notes payable	3,382,861,000	3,180,624,000
Secured notes payable	1,109,973,000	1,319,088,000
Accounts payable	17,275,000	11,970,000
Fair market value of interest rate swaps	2,602,000	7,562,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	439,662,000	414,244,000
Security deposits	18,998,000	18,829,000
Total liabilities	4,971,371,000	4,952,317,000
Redeemable stock	10,804,000	10,073,000
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding	9,000	9,000
Common stock	1,134,000	1,133,000
Additional paid-in capital	7,117,829,000	7,109,012,000
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(802,835,000)	(707,479,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	790,000	1,144,000
Total MAA shareholders' equity	6,316,927,000	6,403,819,000
Noncontrolling interest	231,393,000	235,976,000
Total equity	6,548,320,000	6,639,795,000
Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures	2,306,000	2,306,000
Permanent Equity Attributable to Parent and Noncontrolling Interest	6,550,626,000	6,642,101,000
Total liabilities and equity	$ 11,532,801,000	$ 11,604,491,000
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	101,081	103,578