Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 4,996,038	$ (1,673,163)	$ (604,191)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	6,386,788	5,691,639	5,062,817
Provision for loss on receivables	452,700	952,700	0
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford	0	0	2,528,852
Provision for loan loss	0	4,242,571	562,385
Non-cash loss (gain) on derivatives	944,541	2,083,521	(571,684)
Bond discount accretion	(399,824)	(481,225)	(464,560)
Gain on sale of MF Property	(1,406,608)	0	0
Gain on the sale of bonds	(680,444)	0	0
Gain on bond retirement and asset sold	0	(463,461)	0
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	435,395
Gain on foreclosure	0	104,988	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions
Increase in interest receivable	(2,442,220)	(1,575,860)	(2,740,834)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(154,461)	1,137,626	(1,213,333)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(214,420)	419,940	76,836
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	7,482,090	10,229,300	2,200,893
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(8,029,349)	(14,081,507)	(1,641,480)
Acquisition of tax exempt mortgage revenue bonds	(28,561,857)	(20,917,500)	(28,195,363)
Acquisition of public housing capital fund trust certificates	(65,985,913)	0	0
Acquisition of mortgage-backed securities	(37,573,386)	0	0
Acquisition of partnerships, net of cash acquired	(5,500,000)	(24,779,613)	0
Increase in notes receivable	191,264	0	0
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	10,825,000	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of bonds	31,872,522	0	0
Proceeds from bond retirement	0	11,067,524	0
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(70,320)	(281,275)	36,031
Restricted cash - debt collateral released (paid)	7,247,341	6,677,529	(15,409,293)
Change in restricted cash - Greens sale	(2,459,187)	0	0
Change in restricted cash - Ohio sale	0	2,684,876	(2,684,876)
Cash released upon foreclosure	0	2,235,335	0
Proceeds from assets sold	0	36,500	0
Transfer of cash to deconsolidated VIE upon deconsolidation	0	(5,135)	(88,949)
Transfer of cash from consolidated VIE upon consolidation	0	0	1,979
Principal payments received on taxable loans	160,000	4,528,137	0
Principal payments received on tax-exempt and taxable mortgage revenue bonds	970,298	1,023,709	547,094
Investments in other assets	0	0	(1,115,000)
Net cash used by investing activities	(97,296,115)	(31,811,420)	(48,549,857)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions paid	(18,987,693)	(15,277,141)	(13,574,391)
Net proceeds from the sale of beneficial unit certificates	60,003,863	0	41,591,576
Proceeds from debt financing	77,879,014	58,599,571	95,810,000
Sale of LP Interests	959,760	115,352	0
Decrease in liabilities related to restricted cash	70,320	281,275	(36,031)
Debt financing costs	(264,762)	(338,903)	(3,903,782)
Principal payments on debt financing	(8,835,000)	(14,861,669)	(55,742,635)
Principal payments on debt financing and mortgage payable	(10,893,390)	0	(18,858,175)
Loan extension payment	0	0	(246,485)
Acquisition of interest rate cap agreements	0	0	(2,694,600)
Net cash provided by financing activities	99,932,112	28,518,485	42,345,477
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,118,087	6,936,365	(4,003,487)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period, including cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations of $126,572, $65,527, and $198,528, respectively	30,331,500	20,213,413	13,277,048
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	20,086,841
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	30,172,773	20,086,841
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	4,437,961	3,580,562	2,487,421
Distributions declared but not paid	5,566,908	3,911,340	3,803,399
Cash received for sale of MF Properties eliminated in consolidation	7,265,000	0	16,192,000
Cash paid for purchase of tax exempt mortgage revenue bond eliminated in consolidation	(9,465,000)	0	(18,313,000)
Cash paid for taxable loan eliminated in consolidation	(850,000)	0	(1,236,236)
Capital expenditures financed through accounts and notes payables	$ 2,584,417	$ 8,949,253	$ 95,646