-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KQky8HnAXQJ02hYqint5YUSjiLSFiRA1Cb7QooM/ZIULHnIt1vqPg3AYdtS3Mnej
 oRKPlL4DR0jqjuqDxp1+Ew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001102722-03-000003.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001102722-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002115854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001102722-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030925
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798359
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				450311232
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			ND
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 S MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		701-837-4738

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1988
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58702-1988

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STENEHJEM STEPHEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001102729

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14851
		FILM NUMBER:		03922798

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 SOUTH MAIN STREET
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7018374738

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 SOUTH MAIN STREET
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-25</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798359</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IRETS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001102729</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STENEHJEM STEPHEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12 SOUTH MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINOT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ND</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>58701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27614.22</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Owned with wife, Gretchen K. Stenehjem as JT TEN.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen Stenehjem</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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