Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 86,225	$ 77,432
Unimproved land	405	405
Equipment/Furniture	2,090	1,931
Total real estate, gross	456,499	433,159
Less accumulated depreciation	111,967	101,194
Total real estate, net	$ 344,532	331,965
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	$ 201,793	190,554
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	$ 165,986	$ 162,837
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