ORGANIZATION	12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012
ORGANIZATION [Abstract]
ORGANIZATION	NOTE 1 • ORGANIZATION Investors Real Estate Trust ("IRET" or the "Company") is a self-advised real estate investment trust engaged in acquiring, owning and leasing multi-family residential and commercial real estate. IRET has elected to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute 90% of ordinary taxable income to shareholders, and, generally, are not subject to federal income tax on net income, except for taxes on undistributed REIT taxable income. IRET's multi-family residential properties and commercial properties are located mainly in the states of North Dakota and Minnesota, but also in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. As of April 30, 2012, IRET owned 84 multi-family residential properties with approximately 9,161 apartment units and 182 commercial properties, consisting of commercial office, commercial medical, commercial industrial and commercial retail properties, totaling approximately 12.3 million net rentable square feet. IRET conducts a majority of its business activities through its consolidated operating partnership, IRET Properties, a North Dakota Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), as well as through a number of other subsidiary entities. All references to IRET or the Company refer to Investors Real Estate Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries.

ORGANIZATION

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

NOTE 1 • ORGANIZATION

Investors Real Estate Trust ("IRET" or the "Company") is a self-advised real estate investment trust engaged in acquiring, owning and leasing multi-family residential and commercial real estate. IRET has elected to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute 90% of ordinary taxable income to shareholders, and, generally, are not subject to federal income tax on net income, except for taxes on undistributed REIT taxable income. IRET's multi-family residential properties and commercial properties are located mainly in the states of North Dakota and Minnesota, but also in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. As of April 30, 2012, IRET owned 84 multi-family residential properties with approximately 9,161 apartment units and 182 commercial properties, consisting of commercial office, commercial medical, commercial industrial and commercial retail properties, totaling approximately 12.3 million net rentable square feet. IRET conducts a majority of its business activities through its consolidated operating partnership, IRET Properties, a North Dakota Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), as well as through a number of other subsidiary entities.

All references to IRET or the Company refer to Investors Real Estate Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries.