Property acquisition (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	4 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jun. 18, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 29, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Regency acquisition costs	$ 648,000				$ 648,000
Net operating income					15,196,000	15,354,000	15,539,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (net of tax of $1,965 in fiscal 2012)		8,734,000	2,168,000	1,377,000	8,734,000	3,545,000	7,528,000
Mortgages [Member] | Provident Bank Mortgage [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Loan amount											16,200,000
South Brunswick property [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Deferred gain utilized in acquisition								9,800,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (net of tax of $1,965 in fiscal 2012)									8,700,000
Regency Club Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of units acquired								132
Number of buildings acquired								11
Acquisition price								20,625,000
Regency acquisition costs								648,000
Remaining balance in acquisition, after net proceeds from sale								11,500,000
Cash used for acquisition								10,000,000
Acquisition price allocation to buildings								17,800,000
Percentage allocation to buildings								86.30%
Acquisition price allocation to land								2,800,000
Percentage allocation to land								13.70%
Total revenue										808,000
Net operating income										314,000
Net income										$ 165,000
Estimated useful life					40 years