Note 6 - Real Estate Owned (REO), Held as Investment, Net (Detail) - REO, Held as Investment - by Property Type (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	4		2	9		38	2	3
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	$ 181,333,000			$ 161,402,000					$ 115,411,000
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Single Family [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	4	[1]		2	[1]
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	14,624,000	[1]		4,984,000	[1]
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Residential Apartments [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	1
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	376,000
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Residential Condominiums [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	4	[2]		3	[2]
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	68,448,000	[2]		65,633,000	[2]
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Residential Fractured Condominiums [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	10	[3]		10	[3]
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	72,292,000	[3]		73,262,000	[3]
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	4	[4]		3	[4]
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	20,683,000	[4]		12,493,000	[4]
REO Held as Investment [Member] | Land [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	2	[5]		2	[5]
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	4,910,000	[5]		5,030,000	[5]
REO Held as Investment [Member]
Residential
Number of Real Estate Properties	25			20
Real Estate Held As Investment (in Dollars)	$ 181,333,000			$ 161,402,000

[1] Properties of note at December 31, 2012 include.A property under construction of two separate units, with a carrying value of $5,000,000 with remaining construction costs of approximately $910,000. At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of the property was $3,148,000 with remaining construction costs of approximately $2,154,000. The property is located in San Francisco, California.A property with 7 remaining of the 13 original tenants-in-common units, with a book value of approximately $6,398,000. The units may be further developed or sold "as is". At December 31, 2011, the book value of the 9 remaining units was approximately $12,609,000. The property is located in San Francisco, California

[2] Includes units in condominium complexes wholly owned by the partnership.

[3] Includes units in condominium complexes partially owned by the partnership.

[4] Includes one development property located in Long Beach, California, presently zoned and entitled as commercial, being developed and re-entitled to residential. At December 31, 2012 and 2011 the net book value of the property was approximately $8,824,000 and $8,250,000, respectively.

[5] Includes at December 31, 2012 and 2011, approximately 12 acres located in Ceres, California with no zoning restrictions, and 13 acres located in San Rafael, California, presently zoned residential.