Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	$ 4,474,551	$ 4,299,376	$ 12,345,539	$ 11,984,229
Investment income	6,958,323	5,247,808	19,405,356	17,559,622
Gain on sale of bonds	0	0	3,684,898	0
Contingent Interest Income	0	0	0	6,497,160
Interest Income, Operating	222,074	216,993	672,974	1,558,158
Other income	188,000	0	188,000	250,000
Total Revenues	11,842,948	9,764,177	36,296,767	37,849,169
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	2,590,602	2,609,955	6,961,065	6,982,316
Realized loss on taxable property loan	0	0	0	4,557,741
Provision for loan loss	75,000	72,000	75,000	168,000
Provision for loss on receivables	0	0	0	241,698
Depreciation and amortization	1,829,086	1,762,224	4,967,428	5,004,682
Interest	2,633,892	2,325,372	7,204,292	5,287,994
General and administrative	1,409,688	985,778	4,079,493	3,097,713
Total Expenses	8,538,268	7,755,329	23,287,278	25,340,144
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,304,680	2,008,848	13,009,489	12,509,025
Income from discontinued operations	0	1,342,498	0	3,442,404
Net income (loss)	3,304,680	3,351,346	13,009,489	15,951,429
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,149	59,913	3,626	(263,584)
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	3,307,829	3,411,259	13,013,115	15,687,845
Net income (loss) allocated to:
General Partner	34,731	373,696	1,024,350	1,393,480
Limited Partners - Unitholders	3,438,330	3,356,268	12,408,450	15,156,168
Unallocated loss of Consolidated VIEs	(165,232)	(318,705)	(419,685)	(861,803)
Noncontrolling interest	$ (3,149)	$ (59,913)	$ (3,626)	$ 263,584
Unitholders' interest in net income per unit (basic and diluted):
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.06	$ 0	$ 0.21	$ 0.27
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.03	$ 0.00	$ 0.08
Net income (loss), basic and diluted, per unit	$ 0.06	$ 0.08	$ 0.21	$ 0.35
Distributions declared, per unit	$ 0.125	$ 0.125	$ 0.375	$ 0.375
Weighted average number of units outstanding, basic and diluted	60,252,928	42,772,928	59,154,027	42,772,928