Selected quarterly financial data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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
Selected Quarterly Financial Data Details
Revenue	$ 10,659		$ 10,384	$ 9,907		$ 10,387		$ 10,368		$ 10,554		$ 13,397	[1]	$ 10,709	$ 41,337	$ 45,028	$ 42,601
Expenses	9,578		9,339	9,403		9,417		9,361		11,626	[2]	10,768	[2]	9,265	25,983	29,489	25,021
Income (loss) 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	[3]	181		138		118	797	460	484
Net income (loss)	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 in subsidiaries	(39)		(182)	(43)		(229)		(120)		668		(824)		(369)	(493)	(645)	(1,335)
Net income (loss) attributable to common equity	$ 3,197		$ 911	$ 1,870		$ 1,471		$ 8,438		$ (223)		$ 1,943		$ 1,193	$ 7,449	$ 11,351	$ 5,378
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.15		$ 0.12	$ 0.07		$ 0.11		$ 0.13		$ (0.06)	[2]	$ 0.26	[1],[2]	$ 0.16	$ 0.45	$ 0.49	$ 0.70
Discontinued operations	$ 0.31	[4]	$ 0.01	$ 0.20	[5]	$ 0.10	[6]	$ 1.09	[3]	$ 0.03		$ 0.02		$ 0.01	$ 0.62	$ 1.15	$ 0.07
Net income (loss) attributable to common equity	$ 0.46		$ 0.13	$ 0.27		$ 0.21		$ 1.22		$ (0.03)		$ 0.28		$ 0.17	$ 1.07	$ 1.64	$ 0.77
Dividends per share	$ 0.66		$ 0.30	$ 0.30		$ 0.30		$ 0.20		$ 0.30		$ 0.30		$ 0.30	$ 1.56	$ 1.10	$ 1.20

[1] Includes income related to early lease termination of $2,950 ($0.42 per share)

[2] 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.

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

[4] Includes gain on sale of discontinued operations of $2,168 ($0.31 per share)

[5] Includes gain on sale of discontinued operations of $1,377 ($0.20 per share)

[6] Includes $720 reversal of income tax provision ($0.10 per share) (See Note 10)