Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues
Interest income	$ 849,522	$ 413,107	$ 1,902,266	$ 1,118,356
Total revenues	849,522	413,107	1,902,266	1,118,356
Expenses
Interest expense	227,480	227,383	674,978	572,504
Advisory fees - related party	178,296	13,938	456,912	37,011
Auditing and professional fees	54,789	60,227	144,254	190,650
General and administrative expenses	97,455	274,130	584,874	550,185
Total expenses	558,020	575,678	1,861,018	1,350,350
Income (loss) from operations	291,502	(162,571)	41,248	(231,994)
Realized gain on investments and other				199,604
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other	(278,519)	1,109,603	302,793	2,213,850
Consolidated net income	12,983	947,032	344,041	2,181,460
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests		132	35	421
Net income attributable to NorthStar Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. common stockholders	$ 12,983	$ 946,900	$ 344,006	$ 2,181,039
Net income per share of common stock, basic	$ 0	$ 0.32	$ 0.06	$ 1.33
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic	7,444,451	2,991,261	5,350,793	1,641,038