Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	48,343		48,343
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	$ 28,806	$ 16,092	$ 60,585	$ 38,474
Woodbridge At Lake [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	188		188
High Ridge [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	160		160
Paddock Club Jacksonville [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	440		440
Marsh Oaks [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	120		120
Fountain Lake [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	240		240
Wildwood [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	216		216
Shenandoah Ridge [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	272		272
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Name [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Depreciation	110	1,283	1,620	4,989
Gain on sale of discontinued operations			$ 60,585	$ 38,474

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

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Mid-America Apartments, L.P. 10-Q