Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "we," "us," "our," or the "Company" refer collectively to Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Mid-America Apartments, L.P. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "MAA" refer only to Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the "Operating Partnership" or "MAALP" refer to Mid-America Apartments, L.P., together with its consolidated subsidiaries. "Common stock" refers to the common stock of MAA and "shareholders" means the holders of shares of MAA’s common stock. The common units of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are referred to as "OP Units," and the holders of the OP Units are referred to as "common unitholders".

As of September 30, 2017, MAA owned 113,627,014 OP Units (or 96.4% of the total number of OP Units). MAA conducts substantially all of its business and holds substantially all of its assets through the Operating Partnership, and by virtue of its ownership of the OP Units and being the Operating Partnership's sole general partner, MAA has the ability to control all of the day-to-day operations of the Operating Partnership.

We believe combining the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements of MAA and MAALP results in the following benefits:


•	enhances a readers' understanding of MAA and the Operating Partnership by enabling the reader to view the business as a whole in the same manner that management views and operates the business;


•	eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both MAA and the Operating Partnership; and


•	creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one combined report instead of two separate reports

Management operates MAA and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of the Company is comprised of individuals who are officers of MAA and employees of the Operating Partnership. We believe it is important to understand the few differences between MAA and the Operating Partnership in the context of how MAA and the Operating Partnership operate as a consolidated company. MAA and the Operating Partnership are structured as an "umbrella partnership REIT," or UPREIT. MAA's interest in the Operating Partnership entitles MAA to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the Operating Partnership in proportion to MAA's percentage interest therein, and entitles MAA to vote on substantially all matters requiring a vote of the partners. MAA's only material asset is its ownership of limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership; therefore, MAA does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, issuing public equity from time to time, and guaranteeing certain debt of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds, directly or indirectly, all of our real estate assets. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by MAA, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, the Operating Partnership generates the capital required by our business through the Operating Partnership's operations, direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness, and issuance of OP units.

The presentation of MAA's shareholders' equity and the Operating Partnership's capital is the principal area of difference between the condensed consolidated financial statements of MAA and those of the Operating Partnership. MAA's shareholders' equity may include shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, additional paid-in capital, cumulative earnings, cumulative distributions, noncontrolling interests, preferred units, treasury shares, accumulated other comprehensive income and redeemable common units. The Operating Partnership's capital may include common capital and preferred capital of the general partner (MAA), limited partners' preferred capital, limited partners' noncontrolling interests, accumulated other comprehensive income and redeemable common units. Redeemable common units represent the number of outstanding OP Units as of the date of the applicable balance sheet, valued at the greater of the closing market price of MAA's common stock or the aggregate value of the individual partners' capital balances. Holders of OP Units (other than MAA and its corporate affiliates) may require the Operating Partnership to redeem their OP Units from time to time, in which case the Operating Partnership may, at its option, pay the redemption price either in cash (in an amount per OP Unit equal, in general, to the average closing price of MAA's common stock on the NYSE over a specified period prior to the redemption date) or by delivering one share of MAA's common stock (subject to adjustment under specified circumstances) for each OP Unit so redeemed.

Organization of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

On December 1, 2016, MAA completed a merger with Post Properties, Inc., or Post Properties. Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the Merger Agreement, Post Properties merged with and into MAA, with MAA continuing as the surviving corporation, or the Parent Merger, and Post Apartment Homes, L.P, or Post LP, merged with and into MAALP, with MAALP continuing as the surviving entity, or the Partnership Merger. We refer to the Parent Merger, together with the Partnership Merger, as the Merger in this Report. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each share of Post Properties common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.71 of a newly issued share of MAA common stock, including the right, if any, to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of MAA common stock. In addition, each limited partner interest in Post LP designated as a "Class A Unit" automatically converted into the right to receive 0.71 of a newly issued partnership unit of MAALP. Also, each share of Post Properties' 8 1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, which we refer to as the Post Properties Series A preferred stock, was automatically converted into the right to receive one newly issued share of MAA's 8.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, which we refer to as MAA Series I preferred stock. Each newly issued share of MAA Series I preferred stock has substantially the same rights, preferences, privileges, and voting powers as those of the Post Properties Series A preferred stock.

As of September 30, 2017, we owned and operated 302 apartment communities, comprising 99,612 apartment units located in 17 states, through the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2017, we also owned a 35.0% interest in an unconsolidated real estate joint venture and a 32.0% interest in an unconsolidated limited partnership. As of September 30, 2017, we had five development communities under construction totaling 1,434 apartment units. Total expected costs for the development projects are $305.0 million, of which $235.3 million has been incurred through September 30, 2017. We expect to complete construction on two projects by the fourth quarter of 2017, one project by the first quarter of 2018, one project by the third quarter of 2018, and one project by the fourth quarter of 2018. Twenty-nine of our multifamily properties include retail components with approximately 600,000 square feet of gross leasable area. We also have four wholly-owned commercial properties, which we acquired through the Merger, with approximately 232,000 square feet of combined gross leasable area.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by our management in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of MAA presented herein include the accounts of MAA, the Operating Partnership, and all other subsidiaries in which MAA has a controlling financial interest. MAA owns approximately 92.5% to 100% of all consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of MAALP presented herein include the accounts of MAALP and all other subsidiaries in which MAALP has a controlling financial interest. MAALP owns, directly or indirectly, 92.5% to 100% of all consolidated subsidiaries. In our opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been included, and all such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We invest in entities which may qualify as variable interest entities, or VIEs, and MAALP is considered a VIE. A VIE is a legal entity in which the equity investors lack sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or, as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack the power to direct the activities of a legal entity as well as the obligation to absorb its expected losses or the right to receive its expected residual returns. MAALP is classified as a VIE, since the limited partners lack substantive kick-out rights and substantive participating rights. We consolidate all VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary and use the equity method to account for investments that qualify as VIEs but for which we are not the primary beneficiary. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we consider qualitative and quantitative factors, including but not limited to, those activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and which party controls such activities.

We use the equity method of accounting for our investments in entities for which we exercise significant influence, but do not have the ability to exercise control. The factors considered in determining that we do not have the ability to exercise control include ownership of voting interests and participatory rights of investors (see "Investment in Unconsolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures" below).

Noncontrolling Interests

At September 30, 2017, the Company had two types of noncontrolling interests, (1) noncontrolling interests related to the common unitholders of the Operating Partnership (see Note 11) and (2) noncontrolling interests related to its consolidated real estate entities (see "Investment in Consolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures" below).

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Immediately prior to the effective date of the Merger, Post Properties together with other institutional investors, in a limited liability company, or the Apartment LLC, owned one apartment community, Post Massachusetts Avenue, located in Washington, D.C. Post Properties had a 35.0% equity interest in this unconsolidated joint venture, which we retained immediately following the effectiveness of the Merger and as of September 30, 2017. We provide property and asset management services to the Apartment LLC for which we earn fees.

This joint venture was determined to be a VIE, but we are not designated as a primary beneficiary. As a result, we account for our investment in the Apartment LLC using the equity method of accounting, as we are able to exert significant influence, but do not have a controlling interest in this joint venture. At September 30, 2017, our investment in the Apartment LLC totaled $45.1 million.

During September 2017, MAA entered into a limited partnership together with a general partner and other limited partners to form Real Estate Technology Ventures, L.P. MAA's equity interest in the partnership is 32.0%, which is considered more than minor. This joint venture was determined to be a VIE, but we are not designated as a primary beneficiary. Therefore, we account for our investment in the limited partnership using the equity method of accounting, as we are able to exert significant influence over the partnership but do not have a controlling interest in this joint venture. At September 30, 2017, our investment in the limited partnership totaled $0.8 million, and we are committed to make additional capital contributions totaling $14.2 million over the next five years from the date of the initial capital contribution.

Investment in Consolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures

In 2015, Post Properties entered into a joint venture arrangement with a private real estate company to develop, construct and operate a 358-unit apartment community in Denver, Colorado. At September 30, 2017, we owned a 92.5% equity interest in the consolidated joint venture. In 2015, this joint venture acquired the land site and initiated the development of the apartment community. The venture partner will generally be responsible for the development and construction of the community and we will continue to manage the community upon its completion. This joint venture was determined to be a VIE with us designated as the primary beneficiary. As a result, the accounts of the joint venture are consolidated by us. At September 30, 2017, our consolidated assets, liabilities and equity included construction in progress of $60.3 million, land of $14.5 million, and accounts payable and accrued expenses of $6.2 million.

Assets Held for Sale

During September 2017, one land parcel was classified as held for sale. The criteria for classifying the land parcel as held for sale were met during June; however, the sale is not expected to close until the fourth quarter of 2017. As a result, the assets and liabilities associated with the land parcel were presented as held for sale in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.