Statement of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Rental Income	$ 124,834	$ 52,233	$ 18,333
Interest income from direct financing leases	48,474	40,028	29,117
Other Operating Income	2,886	1,440	153
Interest income	6,602	3,545	2,743
Other real estate income	13,740	2,217	0
Gross Revenues	196,536	99,463	50,346
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(43,688)	(14,528)	(5,324)
General and administrative	(16,585)	(5,258)	(3,486)
Property expenses	(19,268)	(6,991)	(3,314)
Other real estate expenses	(8,009)	(1,327)	0
Impairment Charges	70	0	(23,904)
Costs And Expenses	(87,480)	(28,104)	(36,028)
Other Income and Expenses
Income from equity investments in real estate	5,527	1,675	1,406
Other income and (expenses)	6,983	794	(2,301)
Interest expense	(51,332)	(27,860)	(10,823)
Nonoperating Income Expense	(38,822)	(25,391)	(11,718)
Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes	70,234	45,968	2,600
Provision for income taxes	(1,042)	(214)	(420)
Income from continuing operations	69,192	45,754	2,180
Discontinued Operations
Income from operations of discontinued properties	476	33	0
Gain on sale of real estate	778	0	0
Income from discontinued operations	1,254	33	0
Net income	70,446	45,787	2,180
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20,791)	(15,333)	(9,881)
Net income (loss) attributable to CPA:17 - Global shareholders	49,655	30,454	(7,701)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CPA 17 Global shareholders	$ 0.27	$ 0.27	$ (0.14)
Income from discontinuing operations attributable to CPA 17 Global shareholders	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ 0
Net income (loss) attributable to CPA 17 shareholders	$ 0.28	$ 0.27	$ (0.14)
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding	175,271,595	110,882,448	54,376,664
Amounts Attributable To CPA 17 Global Shareholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,401	30,421	(7,701)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,254	33	0
Net income (loss) attributable to CPA:17 - Global shareholders	$ 49,655	$ 30,454	$ (7,701)
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.6475	$ 0.6400	$ 0.6324