CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013
Real estate investments
Property owned	$ 2,042,290	$ 2,032,970
Less accumulated depreciation	(439,233)	(420,421)
Total property owned	1,603,057	1,612,549
Development in progress	89,086	46,782
Unimproved land	21,498	21,503
Total real estate investments	1,713,641	1,680,834
Other assets
Cash and cash equivalents	53,494	94,133
Other investments	643	639
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $783 and $830, respectively	27,026	26,354
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $260 and $563, respectively	15,540	4,534
Real estate deposits	3,502	196
Prepaid and other assets	8,197	5,124
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22,703 and $27,708, respectively	34,008	40,457
Tax, insurance, and other escrow	24,550	12,569
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,938 and $1,673, respectively	1,719	1,221
Goodwill	1,100	1,106
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $20,051 and $18,714, respectively	21,138	22,387
TOTAL ASSETS	1,904,558	1,889,554
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54,337	50,797
Revolving line of credit	22,500	10,000
Mortgages payable	1,008,524	1,049,206
Other	47,767	18,170
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,133,128	1,128,173
Statement [Line Items]
Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value, 1,150,000 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2014 and April 30, 2013, aggregate liquidation preference of $28,750,000)	27,317	27,317
Series B Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value, 4,600,000 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2014 and April 30, 2013, aggregate liquidation preference of $115,000,000)	111,357	111,357
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 106,937,304 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2014, and 101,487,976 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2013)	829,816	784,454
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(344,294)	(310,341)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity	624,196	612,787
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (21,799,285 units at January 31, 2014 and 21,635,127 units at April 30, 2013)	117,803	122,539
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	29,431	26,055
Total equity	771,430	761,381
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 1,904,558	$ 1,889,554