SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 47,436	$ 45,406	$ 139,978	$ 134,638
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	19,910	19,487	59,462	57,691
Net operating income	27,526	25,919	80,516	76,947
Casualty gain (loss)	(178)	(225)	(911)	(275)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,751)	(19,164)	(55,299)	(58,812)
Impairment of real estate investments	0	0	0	(17,809)
General and administrative expenses	(3,448)	(3,147)	(10,803)	(11,114)
Interest expense	(7,694)	(8,193)	(23,180)	(25,051)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(1,087)	(540)	(1,496)	(673)
Interest and other income	498	395	1,390	1,544
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments, gain (loss) on litigation settlement, and income (loss) from discontinued operations	(4,687)	(6,224)	(14,335)	(39,333)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	39,105	9,095	39,774	11,399
Gain (loss) on litigation settlement	300	0	6,586	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	34,718	2,871	32,025	(27,934)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	570	0	14,690
NET INCOME (LOSS)	34,718	3,441	32,025	(13,244)
Segment assets
Property owned	1,720,352		1,720,352		$ 1,627,636
Less accumulated depreciation	(370,492)		(370,492)		(353,871)
Total property owned	1,349,860		1,349,860		1,273,765
Cash and cash equivalents	8,500	36,910	8,500	36,910	13,792
Restricted cash	3,339	4,669	3,339	4,669	5,464
Other assets	30,589		30,589		27,265
Unimproved land	1,376		1,376		5,301
Mortgage loans receivable	10,140		10,140		10,410
TOTAL ASSETS	1,403,804		1,403,804		1,335,997
Management Service
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management	(1,553)	(1,269)	(4,552)	(4,090)
Casualty gain (loss)		(225)
Operating Segments | Multifamily
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	43,916	40,885	129,457	119,069
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	18,455	17,491	54,888	51,342
Net operating income	25,461	23,394	74,569	67,727
Segment assets
Property owned	1,684,943		1,684,943		1,582,917
Less accumulated depreciation	(360,955)		(360,955)		(340,081)
Total property owned	1,323,988		1,323,988		1,242,836
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	3,520	4,521	10,521	15,569
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	1,455	1,996	4,574	6,349
Net operating income	2,065	$ 2,525	5,947	$ 9,220
Segment assets
Property owned	35,409		35,409		44,719
Less accumulated depreciation	(9,537)		(9,537)		(13,790)
Total property owned	$ 25,872		$ 25,872		$ 30,929