CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Real estate investments
Property owned	$ 2,093,148	$ 1,996,031
Less accumulated depreciation	(439,153)	(424,288)
Total property owned	1,653,995	1,571,743
Development in progress	114,005	104,609
Unimproved land	27,675	22,864
Total real estate investments	1,795,675	1,699,216
Other assets
Real estate held for sale	44,259	2,951
Cash and cash equivalents	52,148	47,267
Other investments	329	329
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $714 and $796, respectively	27,169	27,096
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $445 and $248, respectively	5,574	10,206
Real estate deposits	7,494	145
Prepaid and other assets	5,580	4,639
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $25,423 and $24,071, respectively	28,475	32,639
Tax, insurance, and other escrow	11,277	20,880
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,364 and $2,041, respectively	1,619	1,681
Goodwill	1,940	1,100
Deferred charges and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $21,020 and $21,068, respectively	19,803	21,072
TOTAL ASSETS	2,001,342	1,869,221
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	69,901	59,105
Revolving line of credit	50,500	22,500
Mortgages payable	1,006,179	997,689
Other	132,210	63,178
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,258,790	1,142,472
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE ENTITIES	6,340	6,203
Statement [Line Items]
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 122,134,143 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2015, and 109,019,341 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2014)	935,287	843,268
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(430,282)	(389,758)
Total Investors Real Estate Trust shareholders' equity	643,679	592,184
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership (14,397,983 units at January 31, 2015 and 21,093,445 units at April 30, 2014)	61,177	105,724
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	31,356	22,638
Total equity	736,212	720,546
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY	2,001,342	1,869,221
Preferred Series A [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)	27,317	27,317
Preferred Series B [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares)	$ 111,357	$ 111,357