Statement of Financial Position (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in real estate:
Real estate, at cost (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $159,346 and $133,472, respectively)	$ 2,138,923	$ 2,105,772
Operating real estate, at cost	257,853	254,805
Accumulated depreciation (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $5,181 and $3,801, respectively)	(97,815)	(85,002)
Net investments in properties	2,298,961	2,275,575
Real estate under construction (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $9,926 and $12,629, respectively)	60,883	71,285
Net investments in direct financing leases attributable to consolidated VIEs of $242,704 and $242,175, respectively)	474,018	475,872
Equity investments in real estate	279,289	275,133
Net investments in real estate	3,113,151	3,097,865
Notes receivable	40,000	40,000
Cash and cash equivalents (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $1,184 and $1,529, respectively)	690,439	652,330
In-place lease intangible assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $17,982 and $6,040, respectively)	416,196	423,084
Other Intangible Assets, Net	75,586	78,239
Other assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $15,838 and $14,780, respectively)	128,261	124,781
Assets	4,463,633	4,416,299
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $148,066 and $123,413, respectively)	1,704,986	1,633,452
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $2,774 and $2,249, respectively)	74,152	74,384
Prepaid and deferred rental income and security deposits (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $5,213 and $5,710, respectively)	122,487	118,017
Due to affiliates	24,986	29,527
Distributions payable	50,207	46,412
Liabilities	1,976,818	1,901,792
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)	0	0
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; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 313,448,326 and 310,548,664 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	313	310
Additional paid-in-capital	2,814,249	2,786,855
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(312,610)	(277,224)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(50,261)	(35,366)
Less, treasury stock at cost, 4,196,724 and 3,645,644 shares, respectively	(39,507)	(34,293)
Total CPA:17 Global shareholders equity	2,412,184	2,440,282
Noncontrolling interests	74,631	74,225
Total equity	2,486,815	2,514,507
Total liabilities and equity	$ 4,463,633	$ 4,416,299