CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012
Real estate investments
Property owned	$ 1,983,978	$ 1,892,009
Less accumulated depreciation	(394,256)	(373,490)
Total property owned	1,589,722	1,518,519
Development in progress	23,218	27,599
Unimproved land	11,670	10,990
Total real estate investments	1,624,610	1,557,108
Other assets
Real estate held for sale	1,844	2,067
Cash and cash equivalents	84,258	39,989
Other investments	637	634
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $1,209 and $996, respectively	24,895	23,273
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $154 and $317, respectively	2,854	7,052
Real estate deposits	55	263
Prepaid and other assets	2,101	3,703
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $47,813 and $42,154, respectively	42,281	44,588
Tax, insurance, and other escrow	12,177	11,669
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,423 and $1,231, respectively	1,351	1,454
Goodwill	1,110	1,120
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $16,244 and $13,675, respectively	21,164	21,447
TOTAL ASSETS	1,819,337	1,714,367
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	38,762	47,403
Revolving line of credit	10,000	39,000
Mortgages payable	1,045,197	1,048,689
Other	32,889	14,012
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,126,848	1,149,104
Statement [Line Items]
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 93,161,087 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2012, and 89,473,838 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2012)	711,880	684,049
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(295,396)	(278,377)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity	555,158	432,989
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (21,336,222 units at October 31, 2012 and 20,332,415 units at April 30, 2012)	122,357	118,710
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	14,974	13,564
Total equity	692,489	565,263
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	1,819,337	1,714,367
Preferred Class A [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value)	27,317	27,317
Preferred Class B [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value)	$ 111,357	$ 0