Preferred Return Percentage

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Future cash outflow to pay for purchases of fixed assets that have occurred.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

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-Topic 210

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- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate owned for investment purposes.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

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-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(d))

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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- Definition

The maximum amount of borrowing capacity under a line of credit that is available as of the balance sheet date for a specific purpose other than for financing goods acquired for inventory or imminent delivery to a customer.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total contributions made by each class of partners (i.e., general, limited and preferred partners).

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Glossary Financing Activities

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UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES AND COST METHOD INVESTMENTS (Joint Ventures) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	35.00%			35.00%
Business combination, purchase price			$ 127,706
Gain on sales of real estate assets	5,342	1,980	2,286
Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	65.00%			65.00%	65.00%
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired								75.00%
Imperial Valley Mall [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage			60.00%
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired			40.00%
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired								75.00%
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso [Member] \| Outlet Shoppes at El Paso [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage								75.00%
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	35.00%			35.00%
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options				14,800
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	65.00%			65.00%
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options				13,320
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage					35.00%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	65.00%			65.00%
Fremaux Town Center [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options					20,500
Fremaux Town Center [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options					18,450
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member] \| The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso vacant land [Member] \| El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired								50.00%
Business combination, purchase price								3,864
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member] \| The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso vacant land [Member] \| Horizon Group Properties [Member] \| El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage								50.00%
CBL TC LLC [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%
CBL TC LLC [Member] \| CoolSprings Galleria, Oak Park Mall and West County Center Interest [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%		50.00%
Gain on sales of real estate assets						54,327
Capital expenditures incurred but not yet paid						26,439
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates						116,397
CBL TC LLC [Member] \| Pearland Town Center [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage		88.00%
CBL TC LLC [Member] \| Pearland Town Center [Member] \| TIAA-CREF [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contributions from noncontrolling interests		18,264
Preferred return percentage							8.00%
Pearland Town Center [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired		12.00%					12.00%
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options							17,948