Statement of Financial Position (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Investments in real estate:
Real estate, at cost (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $133,472 and $137,902, respectively)	$ 2,105,772	$ 1,500,151
Operating real estate, at cost	254,805	178,141
Accumulated depreciation (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $3,801 and $1,617, respectively)	(85,002)	(43,267)
Net investments in properties	2,275,575	1,635,025
Real estate under construction (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $12,629 and $82,521, respectively)	71,285	90,176
Net investments in direct financing leases (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $242,175 and $240,112, respectively)	475,872	462,505
Equity investments in real estate	275,133	187,067
Net investments in real estate	3,097,865	2,374,773
Notes receivable	40,000	70,000
Cash and cash equivalents (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $1,529 and $275, respectively)	652,330	180,726
In-place lease intangible assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $6,040 and $6,378, respectively)	423,084	267,906
Other Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill	78,239	66,231
Other assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $14,780 and $16,118, respectively)	124,781	86,176
Assets	4,416,299	3,045,812
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $123,413 and $120,717, respectively)	1,633,452	1,154,254
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	74,384	48,035
Prepaid and deferred rental income and security deposits (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $2,249 and $3,228, respectively)	118,017	56,029
Due to affiliates (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $5,710 and $4,903, respectively)	29,527	27,747
Distributions payable	46,412	32,288
Liabilities	1,901,792	1,318,353
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
CPA:17 Global shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	0	0
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 310,548,664 and 207,975,777 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	310	208
Additional paid-in-capital	2,786,855	1,863,227
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(277,224)	(157,062)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35,366)	(32,601)
Less, treasury stock at cost, 3,645,644 and 1,826,959 shares, respectively	(34,293)	(17,104)
Total CPA:17 Global shareholders equity	2,440,282	1,656,668
Noncontrolling interests	74,225	70,791
Total equity	2,514,507	1,727,459
Total liabilities and equity	$ 4,416,299	$ 3,045,812