DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
REVENUE
Real estate rentals	$ 60,440	$ 56,156	$ 176,401	$ 164,256
Tenant reimbursement	11,513us-gaap_TenantReimbursements	11,473us-gaap_TenantReimbursements	33,431us-gaap_TenantReimbursements	34,243us-gaap_TenantReimbursements
TOTAL REVENUE	72,916us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	68,433us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	212,431us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	199,303us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
EXPENSES
Depreciation/amortization related to real estate investments	16,834us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	16,733us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	49,846us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	51,156us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Utilities	5,367iret_Utilities	5,042iret_Utilities	15,141iret_Utilities	15,173iret_Utilities
Maintenance	7,799	7,828	23,391	22,719
Real estate taxes	8,816us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense	7,679us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense	25,583us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense	24,415us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense
Insurance	1,479us-gaap_RealEstateInsurance	1,190us-gaap_RealEstateInsurance	4,560us-gaap_RealEstateInsurance	3,904us-gaap_RealEstateInsurance
Property management expenses	4,746us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts	4,064us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts	13,731us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts	12,383us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts
Amortization related to non-real estate investments	916	756	2,628	2,500
Impairment of real estate investments			6,105us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate	6,658us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
TOTAL EXPENSES	50,791us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	51,820us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	154,997us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	147,595us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Interest expense	(14,595)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(15,130)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(43,858)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(44,525)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other income	109us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	34us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	376us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	123us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Gain on sale of discontinued operations			(811)	6,999
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	0	465	0	6,450
Discontinued Operations [Member]
REVENUE
Real estate rentals		327		3,173
Tenant reimbursement		64		1,302
TOTAL REVENUE		391		4,475
EXPENSES
Depreciation/amortization related to real estate investments		75		920
Utilities		26		164
Maintenance		35		299
Real estate taxes		80		951
Insurance		10		97
Property management expenses		27		222
Amortization related to non-real estate investments		2		90
Impairment of real estate investments		0		1,860
TOTAL EXPENSES		255		4,603
Operating income (loss)		136		(128)
Interest expense		(29)		(421)
Other income		0		0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before gain (loss) on sale		107		(549)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations		358		6,999
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS		$ 465		$ 6,450
Multi Family Residential [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of properties sold				2
Commercial Industrial [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of properties sold				12
Commercial Retail [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of properties sold				3
Commercial Office [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of properties sold				3

The number of properties sold during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Costs incurred to provide to tenants basic services such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, cable, and internet service.

+ References

No definition available.

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This element represents the amortization of deferred leasing fees incurred by the lessor and amortized over the term of the lease. Such fees represent (a) costs to originate a lease incurred in transactions with independent third parties that (i) result directly from and are essential to acquire that lease and (ii) would not have been incurred had that leasing transaction not occurred and (b) certain costs directly related to specified activities performed by the lessor for that lease. Those activities are: evaluating the prospective lessee's financial condition; evaluating and recording guarantees, collateral, and other security arrangements; negotiating lease terms; preparing and processing lease documents; and closing the transaction.

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The aggregate costs of keeping the property in good condition but that do not appreciably prolong the life or increase the value of the property.

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Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period.

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The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

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Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

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After tax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

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Amount of operating income or loss attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax before extraordinary items allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

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The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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The aggregate costs related to management of owned properties during the reporting period.

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A contract to provide coverage or protection in exchange for a payment or "premium". Examples of insurance protection include liability and property insurance. The entity paying the premiums for the protection will have insurance expense and possibly an asset, Prepaid Insurance (if the premiums are paid in advance).

+ References

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- Definition

The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

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A tax based on the assessed value of real estate by the local government. The tax is usually based on the value of property (including the land).

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- Definition

In accordance with the provisions of their lease agreement, this element represents allowable charges due a landlord from its tenant. In retail store and office building leases, for example, tenant reimbursements may cover items such as taxes, utilities, and common area expenses.

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