Mortgages, notes payable and credit line (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Feb. 01, 2010
Fixed rate mortgage loans	$ 166,300	$ 172,228
Mortgages and notes payable	200,420	203,275
Construction Loan Facility
Mortgages and notes payable	15,050	11,757
Frederick, MD
Fixed rate mortgage loans	22,000	22,000
Rockaway, NJ
Fixed rate mortgage loans	18,828	19,197
Westwood, NJ
Fixed rate mortgage loans	8,032	8,307
Spring Lake Heights, NJ
Fixed rate mortgage loans		2,911
Patchogue, NY
Fixed rate mortgage loans	5,623	5,713
Wayne, NJ
Fixed rate mortgage loans	19,248	19,501
River Edge, NJ First Mortgage
Fixed rate mortgage loans	4,098	4,235
River Edge, NJ Second Mortgage
Fixed rate mortgage loans	1,557	1,617
Maywood, NJ First Mortgage
Fixed rate mortgage loans	2,974	3,073
Maywood, NJ Second Mortgage
Fixed rate mortgage loans	1,105	1,147
Mortgages7Member
Fixed rate mortgage loans	22,774	23,144
Mortgages8Member
Fixed rate mortgage loans	27,697	28,482
Hackensack, NJ
Fixed rate mortgage loans	32,364	32,901
Baltimore, MD
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 19,070	$ 19,290	$ 19,500