MAA Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Land	$ 1,868,828	$ 1,836,417
Buildings, Improvements, and Other	11,636,424	11,281,504
Development and capital improvements in progress	53,739	116,833
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	13,558,991	13,234,754
Less accumulated depreciation	(2,439,418)	(2,075,071)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	11,119,573	11,159,683
Undeveloped land	31,849	57,285
Investments in real estate joint ventures	44,619	44,956
Real estate assets, net	11,196,041	11,261,924
Cash and cash equivalents	46,139	10,750
Restricted Cash	33,261	78,117
Other assets	134,246	135,807
Real Estate Held-for-sale	9,300	5,321
Total assets	11,418,987	11,491,919
Liabilities:
Unsecured notes payable	3,582,624	3,525,765
Secured notes payable	921,399	976,292
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	473,803	405,560
Total liabilities	4,977,826	4,907,617
Redeemable stock	9,607	10,408
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding	9	9
Common stock	1,136	1,134
Additional paid-in capital	7,135,479	7,121,112
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(940,773)	(784,500)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses)	11,556	2,157
Total MAA shareholders' equity	6,207,407	6,339,912
Noncontrolling interest	221,841	231,676
Total equity	6,429,248	6,571,588
Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures	2,306	2,306
Permanent Equity Attributable to Parent and Noncontrolling Interest	6,431,554	6,573,894
Total liabilities and equity	$ 11,418,987	$ 11,491,919
Redeemable stock, shares issued and outstanding	95,899	103,504