Note 4 - Loans (Detail) - Secured Loans by Lien Position in the Collateral (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Loans	39		49
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	$ 60,870,000		$ 73,386,000
Percent	100.00%		100.00%
Liens due other lenders at loan closing (in Dollars)	80,875,000		114,550,000
Total debt (in Dollars)	141,745,000		187,936,000
Appraised property value at loan closing (in Dollars)	199,392,000		275,909,000
Percent of total debt to appraised values (LTV) at loan closing (1)	71.10%	[1]	68.12%	[1]
First Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	17		21
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	33,785,000		29,361,000
Percent	56.00%		40.00%
Second Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	21		26
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	26,789,000		43,523,000
Percent	44.00%		59.00%
Third Trust Deeds [Member]
Loans	1		2
Secured loans – principal (in Dollars)	$ 296,000		$ 502,000
Percent			1.00%

[1] Based on appraised values and liens due other lenders at loan closing. The loan to value computation does not take into account subsequent increases or decreases in security property values following the loan closing nor does it include decreases or increases of the amount owing on senior liens to other lenders by payments or interest accruals, if any. Property values likely have changed, particularly over the last three years, and the portfolio's current loan to value ratio likely is higher than this historical ratio.