Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in real estate:
Real estate, at cost (inclusive of $256,573 and $184,417, respectively, attributable to variable interest entities, or VIEs)	$ 5,309,925	$ 5,006,682
Operating real estate, at cost (inclusive of $38,714 and $38,714, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	82,749	84,885
Accumulated depreciation (inclusive of $27,451 and $19,982, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	(381,529)	(258,493)
Net investments in properties	5,011,145	4,833,074
Net investments in direct financing leases (inclusive of $57,709 and $61,609, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	756,353	816,226
Assets held for sale	59,046	7,255
Net investments in real estate	5,826,544	5,656,555
Equity investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	275,473	249,403
Cash and cash equivalents (inclusive of $1,672 and $2,652, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	157,227	198,683
Due from affiliates	62,218	34,477
In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net (inclusive of $27,541 and $21,267, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	902,848	993,819
Goodwill	681,809	692,415
Above-market rent intangible assets, net (inclusive of $11,801 and $13,767, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	475,072	522,797
Other assets, net (inclusive of $19,771 and $18,603, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	373,482	300,330
Total assets	8,754,673	8,648,479
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt, net (inclusive of $115,691 and $125,226, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	2,271,204	2,532,683
Senior Unsecured Notes, net	1,486,568	498,345
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver	485,021	807,518
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Term Loan	250,000	250,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (inclusive of $9,268 and $5,573, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	342,374	293,846
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net (inclusive of $8,619 and $9,305, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	154,315	175,070
Deferred income taxes (inclusive of $598 and $587, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	86,104	94,133
Distributions payable	102,715	100,078
Total liabilities	5,178,301	4,751,673
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 14,944	$ 6,071
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
W. P. Carey stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 104,448,777 and 104,040,653 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding	104	104
Additional paid-in capital	4,282,042	4,293,450
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(738,652)	(497,730)
Deferred compensation obligation	56,040	30,624
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(172,291)	(75,559)
Total W. P. Carey stockholders’ equity	3,427,243	3,750,889
Noncontrolling interests	134,185	139,846
Total equity	3,561,428	3,890,735
Total liabilities and equity	$ 8,754,673	$ 8,648,479