Statement of Financial Position (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in real estate
Real estate, at cost (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $150,378 and $133,472, respectively)	$ 2,293,833	$ 2,105,772
Operating real estate, at cost (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $12,557 and $0, respectively)	280,429	254,805
Accumulated depreciation (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $7,260 and $3,801, respectively)	(127,978)	(85,002)
Net investments in properties	2,446,284	2,275,575
Real estate under construction (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $17,224 and $12,629, respectively)	98,357	71,285
Net investments in direct financing leases (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $243,611 and $242,175, respectively)	478,346	475,872
Equity investments in real estate	363,727	275,133
Assets held for sale	11,896	0
Net investments in real estate	3,398,610	3,097,865
Note receivable	40,000	40,000
Cash and cash equivalents (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $538 and $1,529, respectively)	441,802	652,330
In-place lease intangible assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $17,512 and $6,040, respectively)	436,417	423,084
Other intangible assets, net	94,498	78,239
Other assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $17,241 and $14,780, respectively)	148,488	124,781
Assets	4,559,815	4,416,299
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $200,585 and $123,413, respectively)	1,795,336	1,633,452
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $3,208 and $2,249, respectively)	81,084	74,384
Prepaid and deferred rental income and security deposits (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs of $5,935 and $5,710, respectively)	121,963	118,017
Due to affiliates	20,799	29,527
Distributions payable	51,130	46,412
Liabilities	2,070,312	1,901,792
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; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 319,718,689 and 310,548,664 shares issued, respectively; and 314,648,689 and 306,903,020 shares outstanding, respectively	320	310
Additional paid-in-capital	2,874,248	2,786,855
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(396,599)	(277,224)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(17,060)	(35,366)
Less, treasury stock at cost, 5,070,000 and 3,645,644 shares, respectively	(47,781)	(34,293)
Total CPA:17 Global shareholders equity	2,413,128	2,440,282
Noncontrolling interests	76,375	74,225
Total equity	2,489,503	2,514,507
Total liabilities and equity	$ 4,559,815	$ 4,416,299