Note 2 - Investments in and Advances To Local Limited Partnerships (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Limited Partnership Interests held by Partnership	5	8
General Parntership Interests held by Partnership via an affiliate		1
Consolidated Limited Partnership Interests held by Partnership	5	9
Apartment units within Investment Partnerships	311	533
Operating distributions received from Investment Partnerships		$ 60,000
Sale proceeds investment partnership property - Marshall Plaza I - January 2012	1,110,000
Sale proceeds investment partnership property - Marshall Plaza II - January 2012	1,385,000
Proceeds to Partnership from Marshall Plaza I property sale - January 2012	55,000
Proceeds to Partnership from Marshall Plaza II property sale - January 2012	70,000
Payment by Partnership of taxes in connection with Marshall Plaza I & II sales	36,000
Sale proceeds investment partnership property - Oakwood Manor - September 2012	500,000
Gross proceeds to Partnership from Oakwood Manor property sale - September 2012	344,000
Proceeds received by Partnership used to pay taxes in connection with Oakwood Manor sale	30,000
Proceeds from Oakwood Manor recognized as recovery of advances - September 2012	196,000
Proceeds from Oakwood Manor recognized as distribution income - September 2012	118,000
Proceeds from interest sales in 3 investment partnerships May 2011		362,000
Proceeds, net of taxes, from interest sales in 3 investment partnerships May 2011		339,000
Taxes paid in connection with interest sales in 3 investment partnerships May 2011		23,000
Proceeds from interest sale in investment partnership August 2011 - Orocovix		12,000
Proceeds from interest sale in investment partnership August 2011 - Valley Oaks		50,000
Advances made to Investment Partnerships charged to expense	18,000
Recovery of advances previoulsy made to Investment Partnerships charged to expense	$ 196,000	$ 37,000