Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jun. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 17, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) properties segments	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) properties	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) properties
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue			$ 13,691	$ 12,680	$ 12,664	$ 12,599	$ 12,176	$ 11,590	$ 11,064	$ 11,424	$ 51,634	$ 46,254	$ 44,783
Real estate operating expenses											39,651	31,683	31,020
Operating income											11,983	14,571	13,763
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Gain on sale of property											15,395	314
Loan prepayment costs relating to property sale	$ 1,100										(1,139)
Lease termination fee											(620)
Deferred rents - straight lining		$ (300)									634	608	(219)
Amortization of acquired leases													(1)
Investment income											206	150	150
General and administrative expenses											(2,129)	(2,034)	(2,029)
Straight line rent adjustment - bankrupt tenant													(1,046)
Depreciation											(10,669)	(7,852)	(6,883)
Financing costs											(15,762)	(11,936)	(11,001)
Net income			(373)	13,101	(1,701)	(344)	(335)	1,457	934	1,043	10,683	3,099	2,912
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			371	653	1,002	407	283	(211)	(125)	(41)	2,433	(94)	(281)
Net income attributable to common equity			$ (2)	$ 13,754	$ (699)	$ 63	$ (52)	$ 1,246	$ 809	$ 1,002	$ 13,116	$ 3,005	$ 2,631
Number of reportable segments | segments											2
Gain on sale of discontinued operations											$ 15,400
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties			9				9				9	9	10
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements - residential											$ (798)	$ (898)	$ (424)
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties			7				8				7	8	7
Unit apartment complex [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties							379					379
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue											$ 51,000	$ 45,646	$ 45,003
Real estate operating expenses											26,233	21,797	21,062
Operating income											24,767	23,849	23,941
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Segment NOI											24,767	23,849	23,941
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue											24,114	22,694	23,037
Real estate operating expenses											11,791	10,661	10,436
Operating income											12,323	12,033	12,601
Operating Segments [Member] | Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue											26,886	22,952	21,966
Real estate operating expenses											14,442	11,136	10,626
Operating income											$ 12,444	$ 11,816	$ 11,340