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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2022
Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to 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, the 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, “preferred stock” refers to the preferred stock of MAA, and “shareholders” refers to the holders of shares of MAA’s common stock or preferred stock, as applicable. 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 December 31, 2022, MAA owned 115,480,336 OP Units (or 97.3% of the total number of OP Units). MAA conducts substantially all of its business and holds substantially all of its assets, directly or indirectly, 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. Management believes combining the notes to the consolidated financial statements of MAA and the Operating Partnership 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 set of notes instead of two separate sets. MAA, an S&P 500 company, is a multifamily-focused, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT. 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. Management believes 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 partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (other than cash held by MAA from time to time); therefore, MAA’s primary function is 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 from time to time. The Operating Partnership holds, directly or indirectly, all of the Company’s real estate assets. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by MAA, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for limited partnership interests, the Operating Partnership generates the capital required by the business through the Operating Partnership’s operations, direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness and issuance of OP Units. The presentations of MAA’s shareholders’ equity and the Operating Partnership’s capital are the principal areas of difference between the 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, treasury shares, accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and redeemable common stock. The Operating Partnership’s capital may include common capital and preferred capital of the general partner (MAA), limited partners’ common capital and preferred capital, noncontrolling interests, accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and redeemable common units. Holders of OP Units (other than MAA) 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 New York Stock Exchange, or 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. The Company owns, operates, acquires and selectively develops apartment communities primarily located in the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. As of December 31, 2022, the Company owned and operated 290 apartment communities (which does not include development communities under construction) through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries and had an ownership interest in one apartment community through an unconsolidated real estate joint venture. As of December 31, 2022, the Company also had six development communities under construction, totaling 2,310 apartment units once complete. Total expected costs for the six development projects are $728.7 million, of which $291.7 million had been incurred through December 31, 2022. The Company expects to complete two of these developments in 2023, two in 2024 and two in 2025. As of December 31, 2022, 34 of the Company’s apartment communities included retail components. The Company’s apartment communities, including development communities under construction, were located across 16 states and the District of Columbia as of December 31, 2022. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company’s management in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The 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, directly or indirectly, approximately 80% to 100% of all consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership. In management’s opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the 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. The Company invests in entities that 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 because the limited partners lack substantive kick-out rights and substantive participating rights. The Company consolidates all VIEs for which it is the primary beneficiary and uses the equity method to account for investments that qualify as VIEs but for which it is not the primary beneficiary. In determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, management considers both 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. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investments in entities for which the Company exercises significant influence but does not have the ability to exercise control. The factors considered in determining whether the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence or control include ownership of voting interests and participatory rights of investors (see “Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates” below). Noncontrolling Interests As of December 31, 2022, the Company had two types of noncontrolling interests with respect to its consolidated subsidiaries: (1) noncontrolling interests related to the common unitholders of its Operating Partnership; and (2) noncontrolling interests related to its consolidated real estate entities. The noncontrolling interests relating to the limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are owned by the holders of the Class A OP Units. MAA is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and holds all of the outstanding Class B OP Units. Net income (after allocations to preferred ownership interests) is allocated to MAA and the noncontrolling interests based on their respective ownership percentages of the Operating Partnership. Issuance of additional Class A OP Units or Class B OP Units changes the ownership percentage of both the noncontrolling interests and MAA. The issuance of Class B OP Units generally occurs when MAA issues common stock and the issuance proceeds are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for Class B OP Units equal to the number of shares of MAA’s common stock issued. At each reporting period, the allocation between total MAA shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests is adjusted to account for the change in the respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of the Operating Partnership. MAA’s Board of Directors established economic rights in respect to each Class A OP Unit that were equivalent to the economic rights in respect to each share of MAA common stock. See Note 9 for additional details. The noncontrolling interests relating to the Company’s five consolidated real estate entities are owned by private real estate companies that are generally responsible for the development, construction and lease-up of the apartment communities that are owned through the consolidated real estate entities with a noncontrolling interest. The entities were determined to be VIE’s with the Company designated as the primary beneficiary. As a result, the accounts of the entities are consolidated by the Company. As of December 31, 2022, the consolidated assets of the Company’s consolidated real estate entities with a noncontrolling interest were $279.6 million, and consolidated liabilities were $14.5 million. As of December 31, 2021, the consolidated assets of the Company’s consolidated real estate entities with a noncontrolling interest were $252.8 million, and consolidated liabilities were $15.9 million. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid $43.1 million to acquire the noncontrolling interest of one consolidated real estate entity. Real Estate Assets and Depreciation and Amortization Real estate assets are carried at depreciated cost and consist of land, buildings and improvements and other, and development and capital improvements in progress (see “Development Costs” below). Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while significant improvements, renovations and recurring capital replacements are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Recurring capital replacements typically include scheduled carpet replacement, new roofs, HVAC units, plumbing, concrete, masonry and other paving, pools and various exterior building improvements. In addition to these costs, the Company also capitalizes salary costs directly identifiable with renovation work. These expenditures extend the useful life of the property and increase the property’s fair market value. The cost of interior painting and blinds are typically expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to 40 years. The line item “Buildings and improvements and other” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets includes land improvements and buildings, which have a useful life ranging from five to 40 years, as well as furniture, fixtures and equipment, which have a useful life of three to five years. Development Costs Development projects and the related carrying costs, including interest, property taxes, insurance and allocated direct development salary costs during the construction period, are capitalized and reported in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Development and capital improvements in progress” during the construction period. Interest is capitalized in accordance with accounting standards governing the capitalization of interest. Upon completion and certification for occupancy of individual buildings or floors within a development, amounts representing the completed portion of total estimated development costs for the project are transferred to “Buildings and improvements and other” as real estate held for investment. Capitalization of interest, property taxes, insurance and allocated direct development salary costs cease upon the transfer. The assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Total capitalized costs (including capitalized interest, property taxes, insurance and salaries) during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were $14.4 million, $16.6 million and $12.7 million, respectively. Certain costs associated with the lease-up of development projects, including cost of model units, furnishings and signs, are capitalized and amortized over their respective estimated useful lives. All other costs relating to renting development projects are expensed as incurred. Acquisition of Real Estate Assets In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations, most acquisitions of operating properties qualify as an asset acquisition. Accordingly, the cost of the real estate acquired, including acquisition costs, is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, buildings and improvements and other, and identified intangible assets, consisting of the value of in-place leases and other contracts, on a relative fair value basis. Acquisition costs include appraisal fees, title fees, broker fees and other legal costs to acquire the property. The purchase price of an acquired property is allocated based on the relative fair value of the individual components as a proportion of the total assets acquired. The Company allocates the cost of the tangible assets of an acquired property by valuing the building as if it were vacant, based on management’s determination of the relative fair values of these assets. Management determines the as-if-vacant fair value of a building using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers. These methods include using stabilized net operating income, or NOI, and market specific capitalization and discount rates. The Company allocates the cost of land based on its relative fair value if acquired with a multifamily community or records the value based on the purchase price paid if acquired separately. In allocating the cost of identified intangible assets of an acquired property, the in-place leases are valued based on current rent rates and time and cost to lease a unit. Management concluded that the residential leases acquired in connection with each of its property acquisitions approximate at-market rates since the residential lease terms generally do not extend beyond one year. For residential leases, the fair value of the in-place leases and resident relationships is amortized over the remaining term of the resident leases. For retail and commercial leases, the fair value of in-place leases and tenant relationships is amortized over the remaining term of the leases. The net amount of these lease intangibles included in “Other assets” were negligible as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of accounting standards for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. Management periodically evaluates long-lived assets, including investments in real estate, for indicators that would suggest that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The judgments regarding the existence of such indicators are based on factors such as operating performance, market conditions and legal factors. Long-lived assets, such as real estate assets, equipment and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell and are no longer depreciated. The assets and liabilities of a disposed group or a property classified as held for sale are presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Undeveloped Land Undeveloped land includes sites intended for future multifamily developments and sites for future commercial development, which are carried at the lower of cost or fair value in accordance with GAAP. Any costs incurred prior to commencement of pre-development activities are expensed as incurred. Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments in money market accounts and certificates of deposit with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. Restricted Cash Restricted cash consists of security deposits required to be held separately, escrow deposits held by lenders for property taxes, insurance, debt service and replacement reserves, and cash held for exchanges under Section 1031(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Section 1031(b) exchanges are presented within “Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates The Company uses the equity method to account for its investments in a real estate joint venture and five technology-focused limited partnerships that each qualify as a VIE. Management determined the Company is not the primary beneficiary in any of these investments but does have the ability to exert significant influence over the operations and financial policies of the real estate joint venture and considers its investments in the limited partnerships to be more than minor. The Company’s investment in the real estate joint venture was $42.3 million and $42.8 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company accounts for its investments in the technology-focused limited partnerships on a three month lag due to the timing the limited partnerships’ financial information is made available to the Company. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s investments in the limited partnerships were $36.7 million and $79.4 million, respectively, and are included in “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, with any related gains and losses, including unrealized gains and losses, recognized in “Other non-operating expense (income)” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The decrease in the Company’s investments in the limited partnerships was driven by the recognition of unrealized losses, which were primarily a result of a decrease in the valuation of an underlying investment that recently became publicly traded and the distribution of publicly traded marketable securities. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $35.4 million of expense, $51.7 million of income and $5.6 million of income, respectively, from its investments in the limited partnerships. As of December 31, 2022, the Company was committed to make additional capital contributions totaling $45.2 million if and when called by the general partners of the limited partnerships. Other Assets Other assets consist primarily of receivables, the value of derivative contracts, right-of-use lease assets, investments in technology-focused limited partnerships, marketable equity securities, deferred rental concessions, deferred financing costs relating to the revolving credit facility and commercial paper program and other prepaid expenses. Also included in other assets are the fair market value of in-place leases and resident relationships, net of accumulated amortization. Marketable Equity Securities During the year ended December 31, 2022, two of the technology-focused limited partnerships that are accounted for as investments in unconsolidated affiliates distributed publicly traded marketable equity securities to the Company and the other limited partners. The Company’s investment in marketable equity securities is measured at fair value based on the quoted share price of the securities and is included in “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, with any related gains and losses, including unrealized gains and losses, recognized in “Other non-operating expense (income)” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s investment in the marketable equity securities was $8.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $10.0 million of expense from its investment in marketable equity securities. Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of accrued dividends payable, accrued real estate taxes, unearned income, right-of-use lease liabilities, accrued payroll, security deposits, accrued interest payable, general liability and workers compensation insurance, accrued construction in progress, net deferred tax liability (see Note 7), accrued loss contingencies (see Note 11), accounts payable and other accrued expenses. The following table reflects a detail of the Company’s “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” balances as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2022 |  |  | December 31, 2021 |
Accrued dividends payable |  | $ | 166,103 |  |  | $ | 128,916 |
Accrued real estate taxes |  |  | 135,510 |  |  |  | 144,326 |
Unearned income |  |  | 65,129 |  |  |  | 59,937 |
Right-of-use lease liabilities |  |  | 28,671 |  |  |  | 30,251 |
Accrued payroll |  |  | 27,667 |  |  |  | 27,092 |
Security deposits |  |  | 26,533 |  |  |  | 24,660 |
Accrued interest payable |  |  | 25,132 |  |  |  | 26,331 |
General liability and workers compensation insurance |  |  | 22,624 |  |  |  | 23,851 |
Accrued construction in progress |  |  | 16,484 |  |  |  | 15,123 |
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other |  |  | 101,990 |  |  |  | 103,913 |
Total |  | $ | 615,843 |  |  | $ | 584,400 |
Loss Contingencies The outcomes of claims, disputes and legal proceedings are subject to significant uncertainty. The Company records an accrual for loss contingencies when a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company also accrues an estimate of defense costs expected to be incurred in connection with legal matters. Management reviews these accruals quarterly and makes revisions based on changes in facts and circumstances. When a loss contingency is not both probable and reasonably estimable, management does not accrue the loss. However, if the loss (or an additional loss in excess of the accrual) is at least a reasonable possibility and material, then management discloses a reasonable estimate of the possible loss, or range of loss, if such reasonable estimate can be made. If the Company cannot make a reasonable estimate of the possible loss, or range of loss, then a statement to that effect is disclosed. The assessment of whether a loss is probable or a reasonable possibility, and whether the loss or range of loss is reasonably estimable, often involves a series of complex judgments about future events. Among the factors considered in this assessment, are the nature of existing legal proceedings and claims, the asserted or possible damages or loss contingency (if reasonably estimable), the progress of the matter, existing law and precedent, the opinions or views of legal counsel and other advisers, management’s experience in similar matters, the facts available to management at the time of assessment, and how the Company intends to respond, or has responded, to the proceeding or claim. Management’s assessment of these factors may change over time as individual proceedings or claims progress. For matters where management is not currently able to reasonably estimate a range of reasonably possible loss, the factors that have contributed to this determination include the following: (i) the damages sought are indeterminate; (ii) the proceedings are in the early stages; (iii) the matters involve novel or unsettled legal theories or a large or uncertain number of actual or potential cases or parties; and/or (iv) discussions with the parties in matters that are ultimately expected to be resolved through negotiation and settlement have not reached the point where management believes a reasonable estimate of loss, or range of loss, can be made. The Company believes that there is considerable uncertainty regarding the timing or ultimate resolution of such matters, including a possible eventual loss or business impact, if any. See Note 11 for additional disclosures regarding loss contingencies. Equity Forward Sale Agreements MAA has entered into, and in the future may enter into, forward sale agreements for the sale and issuance of shares of its common stock, either through an underwritten public offering or through MAA’s at-the-market share offering program, or ATM program. When MAA enters into a forward sale agreement, the contract requires MAA to sell its shares to a counterparty at a predetermined price at a future date, which price is subject to adjustment during the term of the contract for MAA’s anticipated dividends as well as for a daily interest factor that varies with changes in the federal funds rate. MAA generally has the ability to determine the dates and method of settlement (i.e., gross physical settlement, net share settlement or cash settlement), subject to certain conditions and the right of the counterparty to accelerate settlement under certain circumstances. The Company accounts for the shares of MAA’s common stock reserved for issuance upon settlement as equity in accordance with ASC Topic 815-40, Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, which permits equity classification when a contract is considered indexed to its own stock and the contract requires or permits the issuing entity to settle the contract in shares (either physically or net in shares). The guidance in ASC Topic 815-40 establishes a two-step process for evaluating whether an equity-linked financial instrument is considered indexed to its own stock by evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise provisions and the instrument’s settlement provisions. In evaluating the forward sale agreements MAA has entered into, management concluded that (i) none of the agreements’ exercise contingencies are based on observable markets or indices besides those related to the market of MAA’s common stock price; and (ii) none of the settlement provisions preclude the agreements from being indexed to MAA’s common stock. Before the issuance of shares of MAA’s common stock, upon physical or net share settlement of the forward sale agreements, MAA expects the shares issuable upon settlement of the forward sale agreements will be reflected in its diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon full physical settlement of the forward sale agreements over the number of shares of common stock that could be purchased by MAA in the open market (based on the average market price during the period) using the proceeds to be received upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the reporting period). When MAA physically or net share settles a forward sale agreement, the delivery of shares of common stock would result in an increase in the number of weighted average common shares outstanding and dilution to basic earnings per share. See Note 8 for additional disclosures regarding equity forward sale agreements. Revenue Recognition The Company primarily leases multifamily residential apartments to residents under operating leases generally due on a monthly basis with terms of approximately one year or less. Rental revenues are recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases, using a method that represents a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. In addition, in circumstances where a lease incentive is provided to residents, the incentive is recognized as a reduction of rental revenues on a straight-line basis over the reasonably assured lease term. Rental revenues represent approximately 94% of the Company’s total revenues and include gross rents charged less adjustments for concessions and bad debt. Approximately 5% of the Company’s total revenues represent non-lease reimbursable property revenues from its residents for utility reimbursements, which are generally recognized and due on a monthly basis as residents obtain control of the service over the term of the lease. The remaining 1% of the Company’s total revenues represents other non-lease property revenues primarily driven by nonrefundable fees and commissions which are recognized when earned. In accordance with ASC Topic 842, rental revenues and non-lease reimbursable property revenues meet the criteria to be aggregated into a single lease component and are reported on a combined basis in the line item “Rental revenues,” as presented in the disaggregation of the Company’s revenues in Note 13. Other non-lease property revenues are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires revenue recognized outside of the scope of ASC Topic 842 to be recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Other non-lease property revenues are reported in the line item “Other property revenues”, as presented in the disaggregation of the Company’s revenues in Note 13. Rental Costs Costs associated with rental activities are expensed as incurred and include advertising expenses, which were $24.4 million, $23.9 million and $23.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Leases The Company is the lessee under certain ground, office, equipment and other operational leases, all of which are accounted for as operating leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842. The Company recognizes a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for all leases where the Company is the lessee with terms of more than twelve months, and a related lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments. Expenses related to leases determined to be operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, right-of-use assets recorded within “Other assets” totaled $44.6 million and $47.0 million, respectively, and related lease liabilities recorded within “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” totaled $28.7 million and $30.3 million, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Lease expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 was immaterial to the Company. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was also immaterial. See Note 11 for additional disclosures regarding leases. Income Taxes MAA has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code and intends to continue to operate in such a manner. The current and continuing qualification as a REIT depends on MAA’s ability to meet the various requirements imposed by the Code, which are related to organizational structure, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership and certain requirements with respect to the nature and diversity of MAA’s assets and sources of MAA’s gross income. As long as MAA qualifies for taxation as a REIT, it will generally not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its taxable income that is currently distributed to shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (i.e., income taxation at both the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. Even if MAA qualifies as a REIT, MAA may be subject to U.S. federal income and excise taxes in certain situations, such as if MAA fails to distribute timely all of its taxable income with respect to a taxable year. MAA also will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income on non-arm’s length transactions between MAA and one of its taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs. Furthermore, MAA and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which MAA transacts business or its shareholders reside, and the applicable state and local tax laws may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment. Any taxes imposed on MAA would reduce its operating cash flows and net income. The Company has elected TRS status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries. As a result, the TRSs incur both federal and state income taxes on any taxable income after consideration of any net operating losses. The TRSs use the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period of the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. See Note 7 for additional disclosures regarding income taxes. Fair Value Measurements The Company applies the guidance in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, to the valuation of real estate assets recorded at fair value, to its impairment valuation analysis of real estate assets and to its valuation and disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, which primarily consists of marketable equity securities, indebtedness and derivative instruments. Fair value disclosures required under ASC Topic 820 as well as the Company’s derivative accounting policies are summarized in Note 6 utilizing the following hierarchy: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date. Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the assets or liability. Use of Estimates Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses to prepare these financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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