Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 79,384	$ 79,435
Unimproved land	405	354
Equipment/Furniture	3,353	3,102
Real estate and equipment	307,882	303,886
Less accumulated depreciation	88,452	81,569
Totals	219,430	222,317
Apartment Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rental properties	104,040	101,968
Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Rental properties	$ 120,700	$ 119,027
Minimum [Member] | Apartment Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	7 years
Minimum [Member] | Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	15 years
Maximum [Member] | Apartment Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	50 years
Equipment/Furniture [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	3 years
Equipment/Furniture [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	15 years