Equity Investments in the Managed Programs and Real Estate - Summary of Investments in Managed Programs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 27, 2015
Investments in Programs
Equity investments in real estate	$ 298,893	$ 275,473
CPA: 17 - Global
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	3.456%	3.087%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 99,584	$ 87,912
CPA:17 - Global operating partnership
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.009%	0.009%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 0	$ 0
CPA:18 - Global
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	1.616%	0.735%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 17,955	$ 9,279
CPA:18 - Global operating partnership
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.034%	0.034%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 209	$ 209
CWI
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	1.109%	1.131%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 11,449	$ 12,619
CWI operating partnership
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.015%	0.015%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 0	$ 0
CWI 2
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.773%	0.379%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 5,091	$ 949
CWI 2 operating partnership
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.015%	0.015%	0.015%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 300	$ 300
CCIF
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	13.322%	47.882%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 23,528	$ 22,214
CESH I
Investments in Programs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	2.431%	0.00%
Equity investments in real estate	$ 2,701	$ 0
Managed Programs
Investments in Programs
Equity investments in real estate	$ 160,817	$ 133,482