Segment information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014 segments	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue									$ 42,430,000	$ 41,337,000	$ 45,028,000
Real estate operating expenses									27,234,000	25,983,000	29,489,000
Operating income									15,196,000	15,354,000	15,539,000
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Deferred rents - straight lining	(298,000)								(93,000)	(12,000)	17,000
Amortization of acquired above and below market value leases									(21,000)	(24,000)	(2,000)
Net investment income									184,000	191,000	173,000
General and administrative expenses									(1,396,000)	(1,623,000)	(1,624,000)
G-Mart lease termination expenses	(73,000)								(371,000)
Acquisition expenses-Regency		(648,000)							(648,000)
Depreciation									(6,346,000)	(6,233,000)	(6,171,000)
Deferred project write-off, net of income from early lease termination											(776,000)
Financing costs									(11,309,000)	(11,945,000)	(11,704,000)
Income from continuing operations	698,000	717,000	890,000	1,118,000	1,081,000	1,045,000	504,000	970,000	3,423,000	3,600,000	4,008,000
Income from discontinued operation									7,000	797,000	460,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operation				8,734,000	2,168,000		1,377,000		8,734,000	3,545,000	7,528,000
Net income	698,000	717,000	931,000	9,818,000	3,236,000	1,093,000	1,913,000	1,700,000	12,164,000	7,942,000	11,996,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54,000)	(162,000)	(98,000)	(193,000)	(39,000)	(182,000)	(43,000)	(229,000)	(507,000)	(493,000)	(645,000)
Net income attributable to common equity	644,000	555,000	833,000	9,625,000	3,197,000	911,000	1,870,000	1,471,000	11,657,000	7,449,000	11,351,000
Number of reportable segments									2
Gain on sale of discontinued operations										3,500,000	9,493,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, tax effect											1,965,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue									42,843,000	41,373,000	42,063,000
Real estate operating expenses									19,420,000	18,127,000	17,968,000
Operating income									23,423,000	23,246,000	24,095,000
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Segment NOI									23,423,000	23,246,000	24,095,000
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties	10				10				10	10	10
Commercial [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue									22,424,000	22,876,000	23,383,000
Real estate operating expenses									9,663,000	9,235,000	9,526,000
Operating income									12,761,000	13,641,000	13,857,000
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements									(549,000)	(681,000)	(697,000)
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties	7				6				7	6	6
Residential [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue									20,419,000	18,497,000	18,680,000
Real estate operating expenses									9,757,000	8,892,000	8,442,000
Operating income									$ 10,662,000	$ 9,605,000	$ 10,238,000