CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
Real estate investments
Property owned	$ 2,025,327	$ 1,996,031
Less accumulated depreciation	(435,317)	(424,288)
Total property owned	1,590,010	1,571,743
Development in progress	131,862	104,609
Unimproved land	24,772	22,864
Total real estate investments	1,746,644	1,699,216
Other assets
Real estate held for sale	6,508	2,951
Cash and cash equivalents	60,620	47,267
Other investments	329	329
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $717 and $796, respectively	27,286	27,096
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $306 and $248, respectively	7,013	10,206
Real estate deposits	3,741	145
Prepaid and other assets	3,428	4,639
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $25,497 and $24,071, respectively	31,478	32,639
Tax, insurance, and other escrow	20,451	20,880
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,140 and $2,041, respectively	1,641	1,681
Goodwill	1,951	1,100
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $22,237 and $21,068, respectively	20,677	21,072
TOTAL ASSETS	1,931,767	1,869,221
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	62,517	59,105
Revolving line of credit	35,500	22,500
Mortgages payable	1,017,574	997,689
Other	83,666	63,178
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,199,257	1,142,472
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE ENTITIES	6,313	6,203
Statement [Line Items]
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 114,762,774 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2014, and 109,019,341 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2014)	884,415	843,268
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(407,052)	(389,758)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity	616,037	592,184
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (17,975,440 units at July 31, 2014 and 21,093,445 units at April 30, 2014)	84,250	105,724
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	25,910	22,638
Total equity	726,197	720,546
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY	1,931,767	1,869,221
Preferred Series A [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)	27,317	27,317
Preferred Series B [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)	$ 111,357	$ 111,357