Segment information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2012		Apr. 30, 2012		Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue												$ 35,819	$ 36,440		$ 36,739
Real estate operating expenses	9,578	9,339	9,403	9,417	9,361		11,626	[1]	10,768	[1]	9,265	25,983	29,489		25,021
Operating income												15,354	15,539		17,580
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Segment NOI												23,246	24,095		24,960
Deferred rents - straight lining												(12)	17		242
Amortization of acquired leases												(24)	(2)		(25)
Investment income												191	173		101
General and administrative expenses												(1,623)	(1,624)		(1,543)
Depreciation												(6,233)	(6,171)		(6,054)
Deferred project write-off, net of income from early lease termination													(776)
Financing costs												(11,945)	(11,704)		(11,452)
Income from continuing operations	1,081	1,045	504	970	1,007		(1,072)		2,629		1,444	3,600	4,008		6,229
Income from discontinued operations	2,155	48	1,409	730	7,551	[2]	181		138		118	797	460		484
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax												3,545	7,528	[3],[4]
Net income	3,236	1,093	1,913	1,700	8,558		(891)		2,767		1,562	7,942	11,996		6,713
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(39)	(182)	(43)	(229)	(120)		668		(824)		(369)	(493)	(645)		(1,335)
Net income attributable to common equity	3,197	911	1,870	1,471	8,438		(223)		1,943		1,193	7,449	11,351		5,378
Commercial
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue												22,876	23,383		23,383
Real estate operating expenses												9,235	9,526		9,526
Operating income												13,641	13,857		13,857
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties	10				10							10	10		10
Residential
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue												18,497	18,680		19,126
Real estate operating expenses												8,892	8,442		8,666
Operating income												9,605	10,238		10,460
Recurring capital improvements												(681)	(697)		723
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties	6				6							6	6		6
Total Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue												41,373	42,063		42,509
Real estate operating expenses												18,127	17,968		18,192
Operating income												$ 23,246	$ 24,095		$ 24,317

[1] Includes deferred project cost write-off of $1,490 ($0.21 per share), and $2,236 ($0.32 per share) in the quarters ended April 30, and July 31, respectively.

[2] Includes gain on sale of discontinued operation, net of tax, of $7,528 ($1.08 per share)

[3] Gain on sale of discontinued operation shown net of tax.

[4] Represents gain of $9,493 net of federal and state tax of $1,965.