Real estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 75,688	$ 84,097
Unimproved land	405	405
Equipment/Furniture	1,978	2,297
Total real estate, gross	385,287	448,471
Less accumulated depreciation	107,137	118,363
Total real estate, net	$ 278,150	330,108
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	$ 155,923	202,486
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	$ 151,293	$ 159,186
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