Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013 Variable interest entities	Jan. 31, 2012 Variable interest entities	Jan. 31, 2013 Series A Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2013 Other Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2012 Other Preferred Stock	Jan. 31, 2013 Common Stock Class A	Jan. 31, 2012 Common Stock Class A	Jan. 31, 2013 Common Stock Class B	Jan. 31, 2012 Common Stock Class B
Real Estate, net	$ 1,416,900	$ 2,103,800
Cash and equivalents	14,200	17,800
Restricted cash and escrowed funds	114,900	348,100
Other assets	92,500	130,800
Mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse	624,100	1,122,000
Senior and Subordinated debt	29,000	29,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	$ 76,200	$ 171,000
Preferred Stock, without par value			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred stock, liquidation preference			$ 50	$ 50
Preferred stock, shares authorized			6,400,000	6,400,000	13,600,000	13,600,000
Preferred stock, shares issued			211,038	4,399,998
Preferred stock, shares outstanding			211,038	4,399,998
Preferred stock, dividend rate			7.00%	7.00%
Common stock, par value per share							$ 0.333	$ 0.333	$ 0.333	$ 0.333
Common stock, shares authorized							371,000,000	371,000,000	56,000,000	56,000,000
Common stock, shares issued							163,729,240	148,336,178	20,235,273	20,934,335
Common stock, shares outstanding							163,722,658	148,227,849	20,235,273	20,934,335
Common stock, shares issuable									26,257,961	26,257,961
Treasury stock, Class A Shares							6,582	108,329