Note 4 - Loans (Detail) - Secured Loans by Lien Position in the Collateral (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Loans	41	49
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	$ 72,147,000	$ 73,386,000	$ 177,707,000	$ 202,134,000
Percent	100.00%	100.00%
Liens due other lenders at loan closing (in Dollars)	110,185,000	114,550,000
Total debt (in Dollars)	182,332,000	187,936,000
Appraised property value at loan closing (in Dollars)	263,922,000	275,909,000
Percent of total debt to appraised values (LTV) at loan closing (2)	69.09%	68.12%
First Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	17	21
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	31,568,000	29,361,000
Percent	43.00%	40.00%
Second Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	22	26
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	40,080,000	43,523,000
Percent	56.00%	59.00%
Third Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	2	2
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	$ 499,000	$ 502,000
Percent	1.00%	1.00%