Equity Investments (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Sealy [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Vintage Housing LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 WRT-Elad One South State Equity LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 WRT-Elad One South State Lender LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 WRT-Stamford LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 10 Metrotech Loan LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 RE CDO Management LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Mentor Retail LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Concord Debt Holdings LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 CDH CDO LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 701 7th WRT Investors LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 WRT-Fenway Wateridge LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 CDH CDO LLC (1) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Marc Realty [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 WRT - ROIC Lakeside Eagle LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Concord Debt Holdings LLC (1) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 SoCal Office Portfolio Loan LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 SoCal Office Portfolio Loan LLC [Member]
Activity of the Trust's equity investments
Beginning Balance	$ 134,859,000		$ 8,104,000	$ 30,534,000	$ 460,000	$ 24,644,000	$ 8,501,000	$ 10,845,000	$ 1,779,000	$ 551,000			$ 28,735,000	$ 1,522,000	$ 322,000	$ 14,880,000		$ 3,974,000	$ 8,000	$ 8,000
Investment in equity investments	13,000	23,835,000															13,000
Equity Income (loss)	7,869,000	424,000	(146,000)	1,921,000	(460,000)	903,000	221,000	304,000	3,770,000	17,000	35,000	150,000	697,000	36,000	480,000	(60,000)	(13,000)	14,000
Distributions	7,822,000	2,764,000		(654,000)		(2,100,000)	(86,000)	(304,000)	(4,451,000)		(35,000)	(137,000)	(394,000)		(137,000)	(158,000)		(35,000)
Sales Price	(26,000)	(250,000)										(13,000)			(13,000)
Ending Balance	$ 134,224,000		$ 7,958,000	$ 31,801,000		$ 23,447,000	$ 8,636,000	$ 10,845,000	$ 1,098,000	$ 568,000			$ 29,038,000	$ 1,558,000	$ 652,000	$ 14,662,000		$ 3,953,000	$ 8,000	$ 8,000

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References+ Details

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References+ Details