-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PNBGa6ABUvB86WpEgUX79evJ6sp10Yp/bBIBXJoOH5hBjmfWhVr9dD3DwTKTLrTq
 D0K6yeTxCj5xI2NE72pDOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001377668-08-000003.txt : 20081009
<SEC-HEADER>0001377668-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20081009
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081009151905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001377668-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081008
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081009
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081009

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:			0408

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 MAIN ST S
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1988
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58702-1988
		BUSINESS PHONE:		701-837-4738

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 MAIN ST S
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1988
		CITY:			MINOT
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58702-1988

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Walters Kelly A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001377668

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14851
		FILM NUMBER:		081115983

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		701-837-4738

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
		STREET 2:		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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377668</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Walters Kelly A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12 SOUTH MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINOT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ND</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>58701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Capital Markets &amp; New Bus</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.4485</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.5222</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michelle R. Saari, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----