Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) properties segments	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) segments
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 14,631	$ 12,680		$ 43,150	$ 37,943
Real estate operating expenses	10,093	9,905		28,665	29,582
Operating income	4,538	2,775		14,485	8,361
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated net income (loss) attributable to common equity:
Segment NOI	7,941	5,758		24,451	17,988
Gain on sale of commercial property		15,395			15,395
Loan prepayment costs relating to property sale		(1,139)			(1,139)
Deferred rents - straight lining	182	241		355	552
Lease termination fee			$ (620)		(620)
Investment income	89	54		201	145
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap contract	21			40
General and administrative expenses	(556)	(515)		(1,748)	(1,672)
Depreciation	(3,029)	(2,709)		(8,573)	(7,887)
Financing costs	(4,537)	(3,984)		(14,108)	(11,706)
Net income (loss)	111	13,101		618	11,056
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	181	653		432	2,062
Net income (loss) attributable to common equity	292	13,754		$ 1,050	$ 13,118
Number of reportable segments | segments				2	2
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	14,449	12,439		$ 42,795	$ 37,391
Real estate operating expenses	6,508	6,681		18,344	19,403
Operating income	$ 7,941	5,758		$ 24,451	17,988
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated net income (loss) attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties	9			9
Commercial [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 6,424	5,694		$ 18,990	17,764
Real estate operating expenses	2,888	2,919		8,857	8,754
Operating income	3,536	2,775		10,133	9,010
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements	$ (337)	(251)		$ (575)	(630)
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated net income (loss) attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties	8			8
Residential [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 8,025	6,745		$ 23,805	19,627
Real estate operating expenses	3,620	3,762		9,487	10,649
Operating income	$ 4,405	$ 2,983		$ 14,318	$ 8,978