Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Property, net	$ 376,483		$ 376,483		$ 379,824
Other assets	68,558		68,558		59,189
Total assets	845,345		845,345		865,918
Liabilities and partners' capital
Total liabilties and partners' capital	845,345		845,345		865,918
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	71,171		71,171		81,780
Revenue
Total revenue	12,159	$ 13,397	38,346	$ 41,746
Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	3,526	3,416	10,338	9,964
Interest	4,348	5,232	13,102	14,668
Other expenses (income)	(706)	(1,990)	(3,885)	(7,394)
Net (loss) income	7,693	(7,766)	8,548	(19,158)
Company's equity in net (loss) income	365	(178)	(740)	(1,474)
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Assets
Property, net	1,256,624		1,256,624		1,278,170
Other assets	125,825		125,825		129,663
Total assets	1,382,449		1,382,449		1,407,833
Liabilities and partners' capital
Mortgage and other notes payable	839,521		839,521		841,106
Other liabilities	294,133		294,133		298,237
Company's capital	89,741		89,741		101,161
Outside partner's capital	159,054		159,054		167,329
Total liabilties and partners' capital	1,382,449		1,382,449		1,407,833
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Company's capital	89,741		89,741		101,161
Basis adjustments	(18,570)		(18,570)		(19,381)
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	71,171		71,171		81,780
Revenue
Total revenue	35,667	31,509	99,540	95,291
Expenses
Operating	15,702	14,998	47,916	44,684
Depreciation and amortization	7,832	16,036	23,253	46,792
Interest	15,170	17,807	47,403	51,448
Other expenses (income)	(556)	699	(1,453)	2,058
Total expenses	38,148	49,540	117,119	144,982
Net (loss) income	(2,481)	(18,031)	(17,579)	(49,691)
Company's equity in net (loss) income	365	(178)	(740)	(1,474)
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Rents [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	29,998	27,407	86,841	79,495
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	4,593	2,424	9,303	10,812
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Interest [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	1,076	1,678	3,396	4,984
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member]
Assets
Property, net	1,224,905		1,224,905		1,242,957
Other assets	56,660		56,660		62,222
Total assets	1,281,565		1,281,565		1,305,179
Liabilities and partners' capital
Mortgage and other notes payable	832,819		832,819		832,779
Other liabilities	270,534		270,534		271,290
Company's capital	89,106		89,106		100,555
Outside partner's capital	89,106		89,106		100,555
Total liabilties and partners' capital	1,281,565		1,281,565		1,305,179
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Company's capital	89,106		89,106		100,555
Basis adjustments	(40,601)		(40,601)		(41,407)
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	48,505		48,505		59,148
Revenue
Total revenue	31,592	29,713	90,913	86,124
Expenses
Operating	16,172	14,138	47,463	42,345
Depreciation and amortization	7,832	16,036	23,253	46,792
Interest	13,839	15,424	43,107	45,294
Other expenses (income)	(556)	699	(1,453)	2,058
Total expenses	37,287	46,297	112,370	136,489
Net (loss) income	(5,695)	(16,584)	(21,457)	(50,365)
Company's equity in net (loss) income	336	(165)	(775)	(1,480)
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] | Rents [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	29,998	27,347	86,841	79,435
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	1,593	2,310	4,034	6,550
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] | Interest [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	1	56	38	139
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member]
Assets
Property, net	31,719		31,719		35,213
Other assets	69,165		69,165		67,441
Total assets	100,884		100,884		102,654
Liabilities and partners' capital
Mortgage and other notes payable	6,702		6,702		8,327
Other liabilities	23,599		23,599		26,947
Company's capital	635		635		606
Outside partner's capital	69,948		69,948		66,774
Total liabilties and partners' capital	100,884		100,884		102,654
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Company's capital	635		635		606
Basis adjustments	22,031		22,031		22,026
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	22,666		22,666		$ 22,632
Revenue
Total revenue	4,075	1,796	8,627	9,167
Expenses
Operating	(470)	860	453	2,339
Interest	1,331	2,383	4,296	6,154
Total expenses	861	3,243	4,749	8,493
Net (loss) income	3,214	(1,447)	3,878	674
Company's equity in net (loss) income	29	(13)	35	6
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member] | Rents [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue		60		60
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	3,000	114	5,269	4,262
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member] | Interest [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 1,075	$ 1,622	$ 3,358	$ 4,845