Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 77,744	$ 79,384
Unimproved land	405	405
Equipment/Furniture	1,765	3,353
Real estate and equipment	429,317	307,882
Less accumulated depreciation	92,547	88,452
Totals	$ 336,770	219,430
Minimum [Member] | Equipment/Furniture [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment/Furniture [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	15 years
Apartment Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Real estate and equipment	$ 190,990	104,040
Apartment Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	7 years
Apartment Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	40 years
Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Real estate and equipment	$ 158,413	$ 120,700
Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	5 years
Commercial Buildings/Shopping Centers [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	40 years