Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Document and Entity Information:
Entity Registrant Name	REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LTD VII
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000722648
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	15,185.5
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1