CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income from rental operations
Real estate rental income	$ 101,885	$ 93,330	$ 68,706
Tenant reimbursements	6,178	3,852	2,230
Total income from rental operations	108,063	97,182	70,936
Expenses from rental operations
Interest	18,366	17,141	12,958
Depreciation and amortization	22,145	19,574	13,575
Real estate taxes	9,524	7,852	5,320
Property management fees	10,852	9,617	6,511
Utilities	7,672	7,220	5,614
Repairs and maintenance	21,267	17,726	11,721
Insurance	1,375	2,292	1,647
Loss on lease terminations	299		58
Loss on impairment of property	0	412	0
Total expenses from rental operations	91,500	81,834	57,404
Administration of REIT
Administrative expenses	360	338	281
Advisory fees	2,644	2,401	1,855
Acquisition and disposition expenses	2,081	2,323	4,201
Trustee fees	59	51	56
Legal and accounting	456	534	431
Total Administration of REIT	5,600	5,647	6,824
Total expenses	97,100	87,481	64,228
Income from operations	10,963	9,701	6,708
Other income (expense)
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates	1,019	957	1,086
Other income	78	59	376
Gain (Loss) on sale of real estate investments	(316)	470	69
Gain on change in control of real estate investments	550
Gain on sale of investment in equity method investee	597
Gain on sale of joint venture interest	597
Gain (Loss) on involuntary conversion	(34)	197	398
Gain on disposal of marketable securities			666
Total other income (expense)	1,894	1,683	2,595
Net income	12,857	11,384	9,303
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in operating partnership	9,034	7,684	6,715
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in partially owned properties	(602)	(586)	9
Net income attributable to Sterling Real Estate Trust	$ 4,425	$ 4,286	2,579
Loss on extinguishment of debt			$ (18)
Net income per common share, basic and diluted	$ 0.56	$ 0.59	$ 0.47
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 12,857	$ 11,384	$ 9,303
Other comprehensive gain - change in fair value of interest rate swaps	74	53	37
Comprehensive income	12,931	11,437	9,340
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	8,482	7,134	6,750
Comprehensive income attributable to Sterling Real Estate Trust	$ 4,449	$ 4,303	$ 2,590