Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 84,097	$ 86,225
Unimproved land	405	405
Equipment/Furniture	2,297	2,090
Total real estate, gross	448,471	456,499
Less accumulated depreciation	118,363	111,967
Total real estate, net	$ 330,108	344,532
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	$ 202,486	201,793
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	$ 159,186	$ 165,986
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