Investors Real Estate Trust Announces 2012 Distribution Allocation

Investors Real Estate Trust Announces 2012 Distribution Allocation

MINOT, N.D., Jan. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investors Real Estate Trust
(NYSE:IRET) (NYSE:IRETPR) (NYSE:IRETPRB) today announced the final tax
treatment (Form 1099) for calendar year 2012 distributions on its common and
preferred shares of beneficial interest. Shareholders are encouraged to
consult with their personal tax advisors as to the specific tax treatment of
their Investors Real Estate Trust distributions. None of the following 2012
calendar year distributions is eligible for treatment as "qualified dividend
income."

                            Cash         Ordinary     Return  Total   Unrecaptured
Security    Record  Payable Distribution Taxable      of      Capital Section 1250
Description Date    Date    Per Share    Distribution Capital Gain    Gain
            1/3/12  1/16/12 $0.1300      $0.0301      $0.9680 $0.0031 $0.0020
Common      3/19/12 4/2/12  $0.1300      $0.0301      $0.9680 $0.0031 $0.0020
Shares
CUSIP:      6/15/12 7/2/12  $0.1300      $0.0301      $0.9680 $0.0031 $0.0020
461730103
Symbol:     9/17/12 10/1/12 $0.1300      $0.0301      $0.9680 $0.0031 $0.0020
IRET
                    TOTALS  $0.5200      $0.1204      $0.3872 $0.0124 $0.0080

                                                                             
                              Cash         Ordinary               Total     Unrecaptured
 Security    Record   Payable Distribution Taxable      Return of Capital   Section 1250
Description Date     Date     Per Share    Distribution Capital   Gain      Gain
Series A    3/19/12  4/2/12   $0.515625    $0.502943    $0.000000 $0.012682 $0.008160
Preferred   6/15/12  7/2/12   $0.515625    $0.502943    $0.000000 $0.012682 $0.008160
Shares
CUSIP:      9/17/12  10/1/12  $0.515625    $0.502943    $0.000000 $0.012682 $0.008160
461730202
Symbol:     12/17/12 12/31/12 $0.515625    $0.502943    $0.000000 $0.012682 $0.008160
IRETPR
                      TOTALS  $2.062500    $2.011772    $0.000000 $0.050728 $0.032642

                                                                             
                              Cash         Ordinary               Total     Unrecaptured
Security    Record   Payable  Distribution Taxable      Return of Capital   Section 1250
Description Date     Date     Per Share    Distribution Capital   Gain      Gain
Series B    9/17/12  10/1/12  $0.331250    $0.331250    $0.000000 $0.000000 $0.000000
Preferred   12/17/12 12/31/12 $0.496875    $0.496875    $0.000000 $0.000000 $0.000000
Shares
CUSIP:                                                                       
461730301
Symbol:                                                                      
IRETPRB
                     TOTALS   $0.828125    $0.828200    $0.000000 $0.000000 $0.000000

Investors Real Estate Trust is a real estate investment trust headquartered in
Minot, North Dakota, with additional offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and
Omaha, Nebraska. As of October 31, 2012, IRET owned 267 properties consisting
of multi-family, office, medical, industrial and retail properties, with a
total of approximately 12.3 million square feet of commercial properties, and
9,934 units of multi-family residential properties, located primarily in the
Midwest. For more company information, visit the Investors Real Estate Trust
website at www.iret.com.

CONTACT: Lindsey Knoop Anderson
         Director of Investor Relations
         1400 31st Ave SW, Suite 60
         PO Box 1988
         Minot, North Dakota 58702-1988
         phone: 701.837.4738
         fax: 701.838.7785
         email:landerson@iret.com

Investors Real Estate Trust Logo