CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013
Real estate investments
Property owned	$ 2,032,747	$ 2,032,970
Less accumulated depreciation	(431,318)	(420,421)
Total property owned	1,601,429	1,612,549
Development in progress	90,052	46,782
Unimproved land	21,619	21,503
Total real estate investments	1,713,100	1,680,834
Other assets
Real estate held for sale	2,620	0
Cash and cash equivalents	68,727	94,133
Other investments	642	639
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $784 and $830, respectively	26,336	26,354
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $235 and $563, respectively	6,541	4,534
Real estate deposits	230	196
Prepaid and other assets	7,605	5,124
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $21,418 and $27,708, respectively	35,625	40,457
Tax, insurance, and other escrow	11,864	12,569
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,839 and $1,673, respectively	1,191	1,221
Goodwill	1,100	1,106
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $20,114 and $18,714, respectively	20,666	22,387
TOTAL ASSETS	1,896,247	1,889,554
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	57,453	50,797
Revolving line of credit	10,000	10,000
Mortgages payable	1,021,170	1,049,206
Other	31,689	18,170
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,120,312	1,128,173
Statement [Line Items]
Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value, 1,150,000 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, aggregate liquidation preference of $28,750,000)	27,317	27,317
Series B Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value, 4,600,000 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, aggregate liquidation preference of $115,000,000)	111,357	111,357
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 105,553,856 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2013, and 101,487,976 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2013)	818,516	784,454
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(331,116)	(310,341)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity	626,074	612,787
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (21,836,285 units at October 31, 2013 and 21,635,127 units at April 30, 2013)	120,678	122,539
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	29,183	26,055
Total equity	775,935	761,381
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 1,896,247	$ 1,889,554