SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 44,138	$ 47,436	$ 132,454	$ 139,978
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	18,531	19,910	55,234	59,462
Net operating income	25,607	27,526	77,220	80,516
Property management	(1,442)	(1,553)	(4,341)	(4,552)
Casualty gain (loss)	(91)	(178)	(1,331)	(911)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,995)	(18,751)	(55,311)	(55,299)
General and administrative expenses	(3,077)	(3,448)	(9,707)	(10,803)
Interest expense	(6,771)	(7,694)	(20,622)	(23,180)
Interest and other income (loss)	281	498	(1,958)	1,390
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments, and gain (loss) on litigation settlement	(4,492)	(4,687)	(16,071)	(14,335)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(4)	(1,087)	(21)	(1,496)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	25,676	39,105	25,486	39,774
Gain (loss) on litigation settlement	0	300	0	6,586
NET INCOME (LOSS)	21,184	34,718	9,415	32,025
Segment assets
Property owned	1,805,390		1,805,390		$ 1,643,078
Less accumulated depreciation	(380,392)		(380,392)		(349,122)
Total property owned	1,424,998		1,424,998		1,293,956
Unimproved land					1,376
Mortgage loans receivable	17,986		17,986		16,140
Cash and cash equivalents	16,804	8,500	16,804	8,500	26,579
Restricted cash	2,199	3,339	2,199	3,339	19,538
Other assets	16,947		16,947		34,829
TOTAL ASSETS	1,478,934		1,478,934		1,392,418
Operating Segments | Multifamily
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	42,463	38,971	126,296	114,726
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	17,910	16,043	52,403	47,387
Net operating income	24,553	22,928	73,893	67,339
Segment assets
Property owned	1,772,356		1,772,356		1,572,530
Less accumulated depreciation	(369,523)		(369,523)		(319,318)
Total property owned	1,402,833		1,402,833		1,253,212
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	1,675	8,465	6,158	25,252
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	621	3,867	2,831	12,075
Net operating income	1,054	$ 4,598	3,327	$ 13,177
Segment assets
Property owned	33,034		33,034		70,548
Less accumulated depreciation	(10,869)		(10,869)		(29,804)
Total property owned	$ 22,165		$ 22,165		$ 40,744