Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	$ 2,396,715us-gaap_RentalProperties	$ 2,402,315us-gaap_RentalProperties
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	272,859us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsOther	283,370us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsOther
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	197,695	144,405
Real estate under construction attributable to VIEs	110,983us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross	127,935us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Net investments in direct financing leases	479,425	479,916
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	275,719	418,108
In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net attributable to VIEs	432,444	466,497
Other assets, net attributable to VIEs	221,209us-gaap_OtherAssets	170,866us-gaap_OtherAssets
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt attributable to VIEs	1,896,489us-gaap_LongTermDebt	1,915,601us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Accounts payable attributable to VIEs	141,043	132,254
Deferred income taxes attributable to VIEs	12,234us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities	4,582us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Below-market rent and other intangibles, net attributable to VIEs	104,722cpa17_IntangibleLiabilitiesNet	102,597cpa17_IntangibleLiabilitiesNet
CPA:17 Global stockholders equity [Abstract]
Common stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock shares authorized	900,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized	900,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common Stock Shares Issued	336,843,388us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued	322,918,083us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Common stock shares outstanding	328,480,839us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	317,353,899us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Treasury Stock Shares	8,362,549us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares	5,564,184us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Preferred stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock shares authorized	50,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	50,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred Stock Shares Issued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary Member
Assets
Real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	144,753	150,378
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	0	12,557
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	9,984	8,235
Real estate under construction attributable to VIEs	0	25,268
Net investments in direct financing leases	245,815	244,084
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	27	339
In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net attributable to VIEs	16,348	17,277
Other assets, net attributable to VIEs	16,536	17,118
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt attributable to VIEs	193,437	199,315
Accounts payable attributable to VIEs	10,109	8,833
Deferred income taxes attributable to VIEs	60	0
Below-market rent and other intangibles, net attributable to VIEs	$ 365	$ 387

This element represents the amount of value that was allocated by a lessor (acquirer) to lease agreements which exist at acquisition of a leased property, net of accumulated amortization at the balance sheet date. Such amount may include the value assigned to existing tenant relationships and excludes the market adjustment component of the value assigned for above or below-market leases acquired.

No definition available.