Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 77,432	$ 77,744
Unimproved land	405	405
Equipment/Furniture	1,931	1,765
Total real estate, gross	433,159	429,317
Less accumulated depreciation	101,194	92,547
Total real estate, net	$ 331,965	336,770
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]
Total real estate, gross	$ 190,554	190,990
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]
Total real estate, gross	$ 162,837	$ 158,413
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