Mortgages, notes payable and credit line (Schedule of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 3,129	$ 3,762
Total mortgages, notes payable and credit line	307,899	251,552
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	215,946	203,863
Unamortized debt issuance costs	1,909	1,955
Mortgages [Member] | Frederick, MD [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	22,000	22,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	62	102
Mortgages [Member] | Rockaway, NJ Mortgage [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	17,596	18,030
Unamortized debt issuance costs	167	196
Mortgages [Member] | Westwood, NJ #2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	21,355	21,884
Unamortized debt issuance costs	229	264
Mortgages [Member] | Patchogue, NY [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	5,243	5,376
Unamortized debt issuance costs	56	93
Mortgages [Member] | Wayne, NJ Mortgage 1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	18,378	18,686
Unamortized debt issuance costs	95	121
Mortgages [Member] | River Edge, NJ First Mortgage [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	10,852	11,037
Unamortized debt issuance costs	139	156
Mortgages [Member] | Refinanced Maywood, NJ Mortgage [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	8,234	8,374
Unamortized debt issuance costs	113	127
Mortgages [Member] | Westwood, NJ #3 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	21,545	21,974
Unamortized debt issuance costs	169	202
Mortgages [Member] | Second Wayne, NJ Mortgage [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	25,038	25,978
Unamortized debt issuance costs	22	54
Mortgages [Member] | Hackensack, NJ [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	30,567	31,198
Unamortized debt issuance costs	70	89
Mortgages [Member] | Damascus, MD [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	18,938	19,326
Unamortized debt issuance costs	486	$ 551
Total mortgages, notes payable and credit line	20,000
Mortgages [Member] | Middletown, NY [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed rate mortgage loans	16,200
Unamortized debt issuance costs	301
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Baltimore, MD [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	1,220	$ 1,807
Total mortgages, notes payable and credit line	$ 91,953	$ 42,689
Provident Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs
Total mortgages, notes payable and credit line		$ 5,000