Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Rental income from operating leases	$ 32,995	$ 29,155	$ 29,367
Advisory services income - related party	3,789	4,204	4,584
Lease termination and other income	131	15	1,065
Total revenues	36,915	33,374	35,016
Expenses:
General and administrative	6,049	5,944	6,320
Property expense	7,770	8,314	8,206
Legal and professional	945	1,165	1,667
Real estate commissions	342	191	157
Acquisition costs	229	12
Depreciation and amortization	8,257	6,634	7,350
Impairment - properties		2,268	441
Impairment (recovery) - notes receivable	(1,071)	1,800
Total expenses	22,521	26,328	24,141
Operating income	14,394	7,046	10,875
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income	493	459	446
Interest and other income - related party	319	274	201
Gain on debt extinguishment		5,374
Loss from Advised Funds	(384)	(1,186)	(604)
Income tax benefit (expense) for taxable REIT subsidiary	(262)	(1,515)	851
Interest expense	(9,971)	(9,541)	(9,146)
Issuance costs	(914)
Debt prepayment penalties		(988)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,675	(77)	2,623
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	148	656	735
Gain on sale of real estate acquired for resale, net of taxes	417	5,726	1,897
Income from discontinued operations	565	6,382	2,632
Net income	4,240	6,305	5,255
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		(173)	(121)
Net income attributable to AmREIT stockholders	4,240	6,132	5,134
Distributions paid to Class C and D stockholders			(18,528)
Net income (loss) available to stockholders	$ 4,240	$ 6,132	$ (13,394)
Net income (loss) per share of common stock - basic and diluted
Income (loss) before discontinued operations	$ 0.16	$ (0.02)	$ (2.37)
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.02	$ 0.28	$ 0.39
Net income (loss)	$ 0.18	$ 0.26	$ (1.98)
Weighted average shares of common stock used to compute net income per share, basic and diluted	22,768	22,672	6,824
Dividends per share of common stock	$ 0.40	$ 0.45	$ 0.50