Management agreement, fees and transactions with related party (Details Narrative) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2006 Damascus Centre, LLC	Oct. 31, 2013 Grande Rotunda, LLC	Oct. 31, 2013 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2012 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2011 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	May 08, 2008 Managing Agent "Hekemian"	Oct. 31, 2013 Resources - Rotunda Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2012 Resources - Rotunda Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources - Rotunda Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2013 Resources - Damascus Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2012 Resources - Damascus Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources - Damascus Redevelopment Project	Oct. 31, 2011 Resources	Oct. 31, 2013 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2012 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2011 Robert S. Hekemian	Oct. 31, 2013 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.	Oct. 31, 2012 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.	Oct. 31, 2011 Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Asset management fees	$ 1,849,000	$ 1,863,000	$ 1,879,000			$ 1,747,000	$ 1,792,000	$ 1,802,000
Leasing commissions and reimbursement of operating expenses						523,000	718,000	326,000
Sales commissions						185,000	317,000
Other fees - refinancing						239,000
Insurance commissions						121,000	122,000	97,000
Consulting services expense						311,000
Management fees outstanding						152,000	145,000
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling interest				30.00%	40.00%
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						386,000	401,000
Secured loans, basis of interest rate						2.25%
Approved total amount of advances to employees per original loan agreement									2,000,000
Amended total amount of advances to employees per original loan agreement									4,000,000
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						1,236,190
Fee, monthly amount during design phase										500,000
Fee, to be paid on issuance of certificate of occupancy										900,000
Redevelopment fees													1,824,000	317,000	236,000
Development fees paid											3,000,000		500,000
Development fees												2,000,000	1,400,000		236,190
Development fees included in accounts payable													900,000
Trustee fee expense																	$ 586,000	$ 546,000	$ 494,000	$ 40,000	$ 43,000	$ 36,000