Management agreement with related party (Details Narrative) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2012 Grande Rotunda, LLC	Oct. 31, 2006 Damascus Centre, LLC	Oct. 31, 2012 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2011 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2010 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2012 Managing Agent "Hekemian" Sales Commissions	Oct. 31, 2012 Resources - Rotunda Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources - Rotunda Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources	Oct. 31, 2012 Resources - Damascus Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources - Damascus Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2012 Resources - South Brunswick Development Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources - South Brunswick Development Project	Oct. 31, 2010 Resources - South Brunswick Development Project	Oct. 31, 2012 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2011 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2010 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2012 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.	Oct. 31, 2011 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.	Oct. 31, 2010 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Asset management fees	$ 1,885,000	$ 1,900,000	$ 1,895,000			$ 1,792,000	$ 1,802,000	$ 1,791,000
Leasing commissions and reimbursement of operating expenses						718,000	326,000	352,000
Sales commission paid									316,500
Insurance commissions paid						122,000	97,000	102,000
Management fees outstanding						145,000	145,000
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling interest				40.00%	30.00%
Sale of interest					3,224,000
Sale of interest, amount financed					1,451,000
Secured loans, outstanding principal						3,223,000	3,223,000
Secured loans, accrued interest						401,000	310,000
Secured loans, basis of interest rate						2.25%
Secured loans, description						These loans are secured by the Hekemian employees' interests in Rotunda 100, LLC and Damascus 100, LLC, and are full recourse loans. Interest only payments are required to be made quarterly. No principal payments are required during the term of the notes, except that the borrowers are required to pay to FREIT all refinancing proceeds and other cash flow they receive from their interests in Damascus Centre, LLC and Grande Rotunda. These payments shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid interest and then any outstanding principal. The notes mature at the earlier of (a) ten (10) years after issue (Grande Rotunda 6/19/2015, Damascus Centre, LLC 9/30/2016), or, (b) at the election of FREIT, ninety (90) days after the borrower terminates employment with Hekemian, at which time all outstanding unpaid principal is due.
Development fee (as percentage)										6.375%
Development costs, maximum amount										84,600,000
Redevelopment fee (as percentage)													7.00%
Redevelopment costs, maximum amount													17,300,000
Fee amount										1,400,000
Fee, monthly amount during design phase										500,000
Fee, to be paid on issuance of certificate of occupancy										900,000
Development fees paid										3,000,000	1,000,000	1,236,190		236,190
Trustee fee expense																		546,000	494,000	455,000	43,000	36,000	34,000
Development and acquisition fees and commissions															$ 0	$ 0	$ 118,000