Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) properties segments	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 11,143	$ 10,433	$ 33,675	$ 31,637
Real estate operating expenses	7,306	6,506	22,587	19,963
Operating income	3,837	3,927	11,088	11,674
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Deferred rents - straight lining	$ (71)	(37)	(219)	(123)
Amortization of acquired leases		(5)	(1)	(16)
Investment income	$ 37	50	113	133
General and administrative expenses	$ (509)	(419)	$ (1,653)	(1,222)
Acquisition costs - Regency		(648)		(648)
Depreciation	$ (1,690)	(1,614)	$ (4,985)	(4,654)
Financing costs	(2,817)	(2,613)	(8,370)	(8,434)
Income from continuing operations	$ 1,057	$ 716	$ 2,831	2,725
Income from discontinued operations				7
Gain on sale of discontinued operation				8,734
Net income	$ 1,057	$ 716	$ 2,831	11,466
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(89)	(162)	(283)	(453)
Net income attributable to common equity	968	554	$ 2,548	11,013
Number of reportable segments | segments			2
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	11,214	10,475	$ 33,895	31,776
Real estate operating expenses	5,107	4,473	15,949	14,087
Operating income	6,107	6,002	17,946	17,689
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Segment NOI	$ 6,107	6,002	$ 17,946	17,689
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties | properties	10		10
Commercial [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 5,751	5,318	$ 17,439	16,830
Real estate operating expenses	2,582	2,103	7,997	7,070
Operating income	3,169	3,215	9,442	9,760
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements	$ (21)	(210)	$ (275)	(351)
Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
Number of properties | properties	7		7
Residential [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 5,463	5,157	$ 16,456	14,946
Real estate operating expenses	2,525	2,370	7,952	7,017
Operating income	$ 2,938	$ 2,787	$ 8,504	$ 7,929