Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments			3
Revenues:
Rental and other revenue from real estate properties	$ 6,866,000	$ 1,019,000	$ 12,506,000	$ 1,787,000
Interest and fees on real estate loans	2,966,000	2,202,000	4,845,000	4,454,000
Other income	314,000	466,000	1,046,000	600,000
Total revenues	10,146,000	3,687,000	18,397,000	6,841,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	2,661,000	875,000	5,607,000	1,342,000
Advisors fee, related party	443,000	273,000	817,000	444,000
General and administrative expenses	1,721,000	2,006,000	3,584,000	3,680,000
Property acquisition costs	160,000	1,793,000	1,038,000	1,793,000
Operating expenses relating to real estate properties	3,417,000	959,000	6,563,000	1,745,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,618,000	180,000	2,905,000	364,000
Total expenses	10,020,000	6,086,000	20,514,000	9,368,000
Total revenues less total expenses	126,000	(2,399,000)	(2,117,000)	(2,527,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures	68,000	(40,000)	129,000	(115,000)
Gain on sale of available- for-sale securities	482,000	342,000	482,000	324,000
Gain on sale of loan				3,192,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	676,000	(2,097,000)	(1,506,000)	874,000
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of real estate assets				490,000
Net income (loss)	676,000	(2,097,000)	(1,506,000)	1,364,000
Plus: (net income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	334,000	1,069,000	1,212,000	1,482,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	1,010,000	(1,028,000)	(294,000)	2,846,000
Segment assets	440,225,000	299,344,000	440,225,000	299,344,000	385,956,000
Loan and Investment
Revenues:
Interest and fees on real estate loans	2,966,000	2,202,000	4,845,000	4,454,000
Other income	31,000	173,000	473,000	307,000
Total revenues	2,997,000	2,375,000	5,318,000	4,761,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	352,000	116,000	709,000	327,000
Advisors fee, related party	240,000	199,000	426,000	312,000
General and administrative expenses	1,167,000	722,000	2,452,000	1,818,000
Total expenses	1,759,000	1,037,000	3,587,000	2,457,000
Total revenues less total expenses	1,238,000	1,338,000	1,731,000	2,304,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures		6,000		(136,000)
Gain on sale of available- for-sale securities	482,000	342,000	482,000	324,000
Gain on sale of loan				3,192,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations		1,686,000		5,684,000
Discontinued operations:
Net income (loss)	1,720,000	1,686,000	2,213,000	5,684,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	1,720,000	1,686,000	2,213,000	5,684,000
Segment assets	100,450,000	108,626,000	100,450,000	108,626,000
Multi-Family Real Estate
Revenues:
Rental and other revenue from real estate properties	6,122,000	178,000	11,072,000	178,000
Total revenues	6,122,000	178,000	11,072,000	178,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	1,576,000	139,000	3,063,000	139,000
Advisors fee, related party	166,000	37,000	300,000	37,000
General and administrative expenses	386,000	552,000	782,000	552,000
Property acquisition costs	160,000	1,793,000	1,038,000	1,793,000
Operating expenses relating to real estate properties	2,992,000	70,000	5,292,000	70,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,434,000		2,538,000
Total expenses	6,714,000	2,591,000	13,013,000	2,591,000
Total revenues less total expenses	(592,000)	(2,413,000)	(1,941,000)	(2,413,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures		(129,000)		(129,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(2,542,000)		(2,542,000)
Discontinued operations:
Net income (loss)	(592,000)	(2,542,000)	(1,941,000)	(2,542,000)
Plus: (net income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(21,000)	347,000	90,000	347,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(613,000)	(2,195,000)	(1,851,000)	(2,195,000)
Segment assets	188,301,000	82,485,000	188,301,000	82,485,000
Other Real Estate
Revenues:
Rental and other revenue from real estate properties	744,000	841,000	1,434,000	1,609,000
Other income	283,000	293,000	573,000	293,000
Total revenues	1,027,000	1,134,000	2,007,000	1,902,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	733,000	620,000	1,835,000	876,000
Advisors fee, related party	37,000	37,000	91,000	95,000
General and administrative expenses	168,000	732,000	350,000	1,310,000
Operating expenses relating to real estate properties	425,000	889,000	1,271,000	1,675,000
Depreciation and amortization	184,000	180,000	367,000	364,000
Total expenses	1,547,000	2,458,000	3,914,000	4,320,000
Total revenues less total expenses	(520,000)	(1,324,000)	(1,907,000)	(2,418,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures	68,000	83,000	129,000	150,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(1,241,000)		(2,268,000)
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of real estate assets				490,000
Net income (loss)	(452,000)	(1,241,000)	(1,778,000)	(1,778,000)
Plus: (net income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	355,000	722,000	1,122,000	1,135,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(97,000)	(519,000)	(656,000)	(643,000)
Segment assets	$ 151,474,000	$ 108,233,000	$ 151,474,000	$ 108,233,000