Segment information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate rental revenue	$ 8,960	$ 9,206
Real estate operating expenses	6,496	6,517
Net operating income	3,963	4,260
Segment NOI	5,961	6,149
Deferred rents - straight lining	(56)	(7)
Amortization of acquired above and below market value leases	(6)	9
Investment income	50	24
General and administrative expenses	(423)	(369)
Depreciation	(1,513)	(1,522)
Interest expense including amortization of deferred financing costs, and in 2010 a prepayment penalty of $2.1 million	(3,019)	(2,815)
Income from continuing operations	994	1,469
Income from discontinued operations	706	93
Net income	1,700	1,562
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(229)	(369)
Net income attributable to common equity	1,471	1,193
Commercial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of properties of each segment	10
Real estate rental revenue	5,862	6,092
Real estate operating expenses	2,226	2,525
Net operating income	3,636	3,567
Residential
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of properties of each segment	7
Real estate rental revenue	4,659	4,683
Real estate operating expenses	2,334	2,101
Net operating income	2,325	2,582
Recurring capital improvements	(60)	(173)
Total Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate rental revenue	10,521	10,775
Real estate operating expenses	4,560	4,626
Net operating income	$ 5,961	$ 6,149

Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets of the reportable segment; if the amount: (a) is included in the determination of segment assets reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in the determination of segment assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.