MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Land	$ 1,836,417	$ 1,836,417
Buildings, Improvements, and Other	11,363,738	11,281,504
Development and capital improvements in progress	93,089	116,833
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	13,293,244	13,234,754
Less accumulated depreciation	(2,194,915)	(2,075,071)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	11,098,329	11,159,683
Undeveloped land	50,198	57,285
Investments in real estate joint ventures	45,000	44,956
Real estate assets, net	11,193,527	11,261,924
Cash and cash equivalents	59,706	10,750
Restricted Cash	22,404	78,117
Other assets	135,039	135,807
Real Estate Held-for-sale	6,700	5,321
Total assets	11,417,376	11,491,919
Liabilities:
Unsecured notes payable	3,566,664	3,525,765
Secured notes payable	932,187	976,292
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	390,380	405,560
Total liabilities	4,889,231	4,907,617
Redeemable stock	7,782	10,408
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding	9	9
Common stock	1,135	1,134
Additional paid-in capital	7,127,740	7,121,112
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(840,642)	(784,500)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses)	3,000	2,157
Total MAA shareholders' equity	6,291,242	6,339,912
Noncontrolling interest	226,815	231,676
Total equity	6,518,057	6,571,588
Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures	2,306	2,306
Permanent Equity Attributable to Parent and Noncontrolling Interest	6,520,363	6,573,894
Total liabilities and equity	$ 11,417,376	$ 11,491,919
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	85,289	103,504