- Definition

Description of a prior period adjustment to previously issued financial statements, including an adjustment that is a correction of an error. At a minimum, the description may include the nature and reasons for the adjustment and the periods affected by the adjustment, as well as (1) the effect of the correction on each financial statement line item and any per-share amounts affected for each prior period presented (2) the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or other appropriate components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position, as of the beginning of the earliest period presented, and (3) the effect of the prior period adjustment (both gross and net of applicable income tax) on the net income of each prior period presented in the entity's annual report for the year in which the adjustments are made.

+ References+ Details

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 Property Location	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Property Location	Jun. 30, 2010
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	164		164
Number of apartments included in a community	48,189		48,189
Number of states in which apartment units are located	13		13
General and administrative expenses	$ 5,439	$ 3,110	$ 10,049	$ 5,921
Mid America Multifamily Fund I, LLC
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	2		2
Number of apartments included in a community	626		626
Mid America Multifamily Fund II, LLC
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of owned or owned interests of apartment communities	5		5
Number of apartments included in a community	1,635		1,635
Under Development
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units under development community	950		950
Out of Period Adjustment
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses	$ 1,800
Cumulative adjustments due to error corrections from prior periods	In the three months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded a $1.8 million non-cash adjustment to general and administrative expenses related to restricted stock grants issued to certain employees. This error correction represents a cumulative adjustment for the 3.5 year period ended June 30, 2011, required by Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 718 to record expense under certain of our restricted stock grant based incentive plans using liability accounting rather than treating these grants as equity awards.