CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Real estate investments
Property owned		$ 2,098,037	$ 1,996,031
Less accumulated depreciation		(448,987)	(424,288)
Total property owned		1,649,050	1,571,743
Development in progress		153,994	104,609
Unimproved land		25,827	22,864
Total real estate investments	[1]	1,828,871	1,699,216
Other assets
Real estate held for sale		22,912	2,951
Cash and cash equivalents		48,970	47,267
Other investments		329	329
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $718 and $796, respectively		26,211	27,096
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $438 and $248, respectively		3,675	10,206
Real estate deposits		2,489	145
Prepaid and other assets		3,907	4,639
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $26,576 and $24,071, respectively		27,267	32,639
Tax, insurance, and other escrow		11,249	20,880
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,464 and $2,041, respectively		1,542	1,681
Goodwill		1,911	1,100
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $21,340 and $21,068, respectively		18,504	21,072
TOTAL ASSETS		1,997,837	1,869,221
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		71,072	59,105
Revolving line of credit		60,500	22,500
Mortgages payable		974,828	997,689
Construction debt and other		144,115	63,178
TOTAL LIABILITIES		$ 1,250,515	$ 1,142,472
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 15)
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE ENTITIES		$ 6,368	$ 6,203
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 124,455,624 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2015, and 109,019,341 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2014)		951,868	843,268
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income		(438,432)	(389,758)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity		652,110	592,184
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (13,999,725 units at April 30, 2015 and 21,093,445 units at April 30, 2014)		58,325	105,724
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		30,519	22,638
Total equity		740,954	720,546
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY		1,997,837	1,869,221
Preferred Class A [Member]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)		27,317	27,317
Preferred Class B [Member]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)		$ 111,357	$ 111,357

[1] The net basis of the Company's real estate investments for Federal Income Tax purposes was $1.7 billion, $1.5 billion and $1.5 billion at April 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.