Note 7 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - The Company’s Share of Net Income/(Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		$ 480,395	$ 159,560	$ 208,689
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts	[1],[2]	7,100	8,100	9,100
KIR [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		41,000	26,500	25,300
Kimstone [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		700	2,000	3,600
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts	[3]	2,400	22,500	3,000
CPP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		9,600	7,100	5,800
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		1,600	4,300	7,600
RioCan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		399,400	30,600	27,600
Latin America Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts	[4],[5]	(700)	(3,800)	103,100
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts	[6],[7],[8]	19,300	62,300	23,600
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Incomе from othеr rеal еstatе invеstmеnts		$ 480,400	$ 159,600	$ 208,700

[1] During the year ended December 31, 2014, KimPru recognized impairment charges of $21.4 million related to the decline in value of two operating properties. The Company had previously taken other-than-temporary impairment charges on its investment in KimPru and had allocated these impairment charges to the underlying assets of the KimPru joint ventures including a portion to these operating properties. As such, the Company's share of these impairment charges was $2.4 million.

[2] During the year ended December 31, 2015, KimPru recognized aggregate impairment charges related to three properties which KimPru anticipates selling or being foreclosed on within the next year, therefore effectively shortening its anticipated hold period for these assets which resulted in the expected future cash flows being less than the carrying value. The Company's share of these impairment charges was $2.8 million.

[3] During the year ended December 31, 2013, BIG recognized a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $13.7 million related to a property that was foreclosed on by a third party lender. The Company's share of this gain was $2.4 million.

[4] During the fourth quarter 2015, the Company liquidated its investment in Chile, which resulted in the release of a cumulative foreign currency translation gain of $0.8 million. Also, during the fourth quarter 2014, the Company substantially liquidated its investment in Mexico, which resulted in the release of a cumulative foreign currency translation loss of $47.3 million.

[5] During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company was in advanced negotiations to sell 10 operating properties located throughout Mexico, which were held in unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company held noncontrolling interests. Based upon the allocation of the selling price, the Company recorded its share of impairment charges of $9.4 million on six of these properties.

[6] During September 2013, the Intown portfolio was sold and the Company maintained its guarantee on a portion of debt that was assumed by the buyer at closing. The transaction resulted in a deferred gain to the Company of $21.7 million due to the Company's continued involvement through its guarantee of the debt. On February 24, 2015, the outstanding debt balance was fully repaid by the buyer and as such, the Company was relieved of its related commitments and guarantee. As a result, the Company recognized the deferred gain of $21.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.

[7] During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company received a distribution of $15.4 million from a joint venture that was in excess of its carrying value and as such, the Company recognized this amount as equity in income.

[8] During the year ended December 31, 2015, four joint ventures in which the Company holds noncontrolling interests recognized impairment charges relating to the pending sale of three properties and the pending foreclosure of one property. The Company's share of these impairment charges was $10.9 million, before income tax benefit.