Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Property revenues	$ 16,884,704	$ 14,692,537	$ 15,667,053
Mortgage revenue bond investment income	9,497,281	6,881,314	4,253,164
Other interest income	485,679	455,622	106,082
Other income	739,585	0	0
Gain on early extinquishment of debt	0	435,395	0
Gain on sale of assets held for sale	0	0	862,865
Total Revenues	27,607,249	22,464,868	20,889,164
Expenses:
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	9,859,424	10,016,742	10,127,657
Provision for loan loss	4,242,571	562,385	1,401,731
Provision for loss on receivables	952,700	0	0
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford	0	2,528,852	0
Depreciation and amortization	5,691,639	5,062,817	6,067,330
Interest	5,769,108	2,514,479	4,202,126
General and administrative	2,764,970	2,383,784	1,997,661
Total Expenses	29,280,412	23,069,059	23,796,505
Loss from continuing operations	(1,673,163)	(604,191)	(2,907,341)
Income from discontinued operations (including gain on bond redemption of $26,514,809 in 2009)	0	0	26,734,754
Net (loss) income	(1,673,163)	(604,191)	23,827,413
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	570,759	(203,831)	(11,540)
Net (loss) income - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	(2,243,922)	(400,360)	23,838,953
Net income (loss) allocated to:
General Partner	152,359	28,532	804,223
Limited Partners - Unitholders	(1,106,742)	2,037,368	2,538,773
Unallocated gain (loss) of Consolidated Property VIEs	(1,289,539)	(2,466,260)	20,495,957
Noncontrolling interest	$ 570,759	$ (203,831)	$ (11,540)
Unitholders' interest in net (loss) income per unit (basic and diluted):
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ (0.04)	$ 0.07	$ 0.15
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net (loss) income, basic and diluted, per unit	$ (0.04)	$ 0.07	$ 0.15
Weighted average number of units outstanding, basic and diluted	30,122,928	27,493,449	16,661,969