Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 304,787	$ 290,325	$ 156,009
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	170,905	116,930	108,962
Amortization and write-off of financing costs	9,518	7,453	29,013
Non-amortizable intangible asset impairment	19,826
Write-down of impaired real estate and other assets	32,322	4,337	27,147
Gain on sale of loans, servicing rights and other assets	(112,613)	(74,449)	(65,855)
Net realized and unrealized gains from investments	(11,093)	(2,706)
Gain on disposition of real estate held for investment	(683)	(41,805)	(21,248)
Equity income from unconsolidated subsidiaries	(60,729)	(104,776)	(26,561)
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,509	9,754	4,661
Compensation expense related to stock options and non-vested stock awards	51,712	44,327	46,801
Incremental tax benefit from stock options exercised	(2,930)	(14,936)	(5,380)
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries	20,199	20,794	33,874
Tenant concessions received	23,260	45,751	4,608
Purchase of trading securities	(203,126)	(144,919)
Proceeds from sale of trading securities	190,220	219,739
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	151,145	197,595
Securities purchased to cover short sales	(151,282)	(189,456)
Increase in receivables	(142,786)	(123,669)	(180,129)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets	(22,097)	(13,238)	(5,520)
(Increase) decrease in real estate held for sale and under development	(759)	84,731	26,457
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	43,475	(62,850)	45,145
(Decrease) increase in compensation and employee benefits payable and accrued bonus and profit sharing	(1,155)	81,380	277,529
(Increase) decrease in income taxes receivable/payable	(27,729)	(4,891)	142,090
Increase in other liabilities	7,715	15,940	17,239
Other operating activities, net	(3,530)	(142)	1,745
Net cash provided by operating activities	291,081	361,219	616,587
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(150,232)	(147,980)	(68,464)
Acquisition of Clarion Real Estate Securities and substantially all of the ING Group N.V. operations in Europe and Asia (collectively the REIM Acquisitions), including net assets acquired, intangibles and goodwill, net of cash acquired	(7,680)	(580,895)
Acquisition of businesses (other than the REIM Acquisitions), including net assets acquired, intangibles and goodwill, net of cash acquired	(44,898)	(49,790)	(70,390)
Contributions to unconsolidated subsidiaries	(65,440)	(51,463)	(37,510)
Distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries	62,977	109,547	22,843
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate held for investment	60,805	231,678	76,504
Additions to real estate held for investment	(6,181)	(15,473)	(16,551)
Proceeds from the sale of servicing rights and other assets	40,206	27,035	28,944
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(16,205)	(1,696)	4,047
Decrease in cash due to deconsolidation of CBRE Clarion U.S., L.P. (see Note 3)	(73,187)
Other investing activities, net	2,164	(1,218)	(1,926)
Net cash used in investing activities	(197,671)	(480,255)	(62,503)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from senior secured term loans		1,100,739	650,000
Repayment of senior secured term loans	(68,146)	(47,503)	(1,693,110)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	41,270	1,032,624	106,759
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(15,230)	(1,005,132)	(110,657)
Proceeds from 6.625% senior notes			350,000
Proceeds from notes payable on real estate held for investment	4,652	10,300	20,631
Repayment of notes payable on real estate held for investment	(54,036)	(186,636)	(81,906)
Proceeds from notes payable on real estate held for sale and under development	22,276	8,454	3,671
Repayment of notes payable on real estate held for sale and under development	(21,345)	(79,271)	(14,341)
Repayment of short-term borrowings and other loans, net			(6,048)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	20,324	7,136	2,401
Incremental tax benefit from stock options exercised	2,930	14,936	5,380
Non-controlling interests contributions	16,075	10,231	29,172
Non-controlling interests distributions	(48,162)	(129,686)	(11,406)
Payment of financing costs	(359)	(24,738)	(34,430)
Other financing activities, net	(938)	(129)	(338)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(100,689)	711,325	(784,222)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,394	(5,681)	(4,845)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(3,885)	586,608	(234,983)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	1,093,182	506,574	741,557
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT END OF PERIOD	1,089,297	1,093,182	506,574
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	161,945	138,035	169,410
Income tax payments (refunds), net	$ 217,956	$ 189,917	$ (11,499)