Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note A – Basis of Presentation As of September 30, 2011, National Property Investors 5 (the “Partnership” or “Registrant”) adopted the liquidation basis of accounting due to the sale of its remaining investment property (as discussed in “Note D – Disposition of Investment Property”). As a result of the decision to liquidate the Partnership, the Partnership changed its basis of accounting for its financial statements at September 30, 2011 to the liquidation basis of accounting. Consequently, assets have been valued at estimated net realizable value and liabilities are presented at their estimated settlement amounts, including estimated costs associated with carrying out the liquidation of the Partnership. The valuation of assets and liabilities necessarily requires many estimates and assumptions and there are substantial uncertainties in carrying out the liquidation. The actual realization of assets and settlement of liabilities could be higher or lower than amounts indicated and is based upon the managing general partner’s estimates as of the date of the financial statements. The accompanying unaudited financial statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8-03 of Regulation S-X. The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the managing general partner, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. NPI Equity Investments, Inc. (“NPI Equity” or the “Managing General Partner”) estimates that the liquidation process will be completed by September 30, 2012. Because the success in realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities is based on the Managing General Partner’s best estimates, the liquidation period may be shorter than projected or it may be extended beyond the projected period. The accompanying statements of discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 reflect the operations of Willow Park on Lake Adelaide Apartments as discontinued operations and the balance sheet at December 31, 2010 reflects the assets and liabilities of Willow Park on Lake Adelaide Apartments as held for sale as a result of the property’s sale to a third party on September 8, 2011 (as discussed in “Note D”). Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 balances to conform to the 2011 presentation. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Partnership had outstanding 82,428 limited partnership units. The Partnership’s management evaluated subsequent events through the time this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was filed. Note B – Adjustment to Liquidation Basis of Accounting At September 30, 2011, in accordance with the liquidation basis of accounting, assets were adjusted to their estimated net realizable value and liabilities were adjusted to their estimated settlement amount. The net adjustment required to convert to the liquidation basis of accounting was a decrease in net assets of approximately $65,000, which is included in the Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Deficiency)/ Net Assets in Liquidation.

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note A – Basis of Presentation

As of September 30, 2011, National Property Investors 5 (the “Partnership” or “Registrant”) adopted the liquidation basis of accounting due to the sale of its remaining investment property (as discussed in “Note D – Disposition of Investment Property”).

As a result of the decision to liquidate the Partnership, the Partnership changed its basis of accounting for its financial statements at September 30, 2011 to the liquidation basis of accounting. Consequently, assets have been valued at estimated net realizable value and liabilities are presented at their estimated settlement amounts, including estimated costs associated with carrying out the liquidation of the Partnership. The valuation of assets and liabilities necessarily requires many estimates and assumptions and there are substantial uncertainties in carrying out the liquidation. The actual realization of assets and settlement of liabilities could be higher or lower than amounts indicated and is based upon the managing general partner’s estimates as of the date of the financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8-03 of Regulation S-X. The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the managing general partner, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

NPI Equity Investments, Inc. (“NPI Equity” or the “Managing General Partner”) estimates that the liquidation process will be completed by September 30, 2012. Because the success in realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities is based on the Managing General Partner’s best estimates, the liquidation period may be shorter than projected or it may be extended beyond the projected period.

The accompanying statements of discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 reflect the operations of Willow Park on Lake Adelaide Apartments as discontinued operations and the balance sheet at December 31, 2010 reflects the assets and liabilities of Willow Park on Lake Adelaide Apartments as held for sale as a result of the property’s sale to a third party on September 8, 2011 (as discussed in “Note D”).

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 balances to conform to the 2011 presentation.

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Partnership had outstanding 82,428 limited partnership units.

The Partnership’s management evaluated subsequent events through the time this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was filed.

Note B – Adjustment to Liquidation Basis of Accounting

At September 30, 2011, in accordance with the liquidation basis of accounting, assets were adjusted to their estimated net realizable value and liabilities were adjusted to their estimated settlement amount. The net adjustment required to convert to the liquidation basis of accounting was a decrease in net assets of approximately $65,000, which is included in the Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Deficiency)/ Net Assets in Liquidation.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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