Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	$ 4,299,376	$ 3,186,964	$ 11,984,229	$ 9,003,313
Investment income	5,247,808	3,110,717	17,559,622	7,770,767
Contingent Interest Income	0	0	6,497,160	0
Interest Income, Operating	216,993	15,224	1,558,158	97,996
Gain on sale of bonds	0	0	0	667,821
Other income	0	0	250,000	0
Total Revenues	9,764,177	6,312,905	37,849,169	17,539,897
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	2,609,955	2,135,455	6,982,316	5,495,883
Realized loss on taxable property loan	0	0	(4,557,741)	0
Provision for loan loss	72,000	0	168,000	0
Provision for loss on receivables	0	(261,825)	241,698	214,525
Depreciation and amortization	1,762,224	1,231,729	5,004,682	3,446,111
Interest	2,325,372	1,551,543	5,287,994	4,317,329
General and administrative	985,778	834,301	3,097,713	2,533,246
Total Expenses	7,755,329	5,491,203	25,340,144	16,007,094
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,008,848	821,702	12,509,025	1,532,803
Income from discontinued operations	1,342,498	1,526,964	3,442,404	2,013,713
Net income (loss)	3,351,346	2,348,666	15,951,429	3,546,516
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	59,913	(137,099)	(263,584)	(398,469)
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	3,411,259	2,211,567	15,687,845	3,148,047
Net income (loss) allocated to:
General Partner	373,696	333,962	1,393,480	508,592
Limited Partners - Unitholders	3,356,268	2,390,780	15,156,168	3,651,497
Unallocated loss of Consolidated VIEs	(318,705)	(513,175)	(861,803)	(1,012,042)
Noncontrolling interest	$ (59,913)	$ 137,099	$ 263,584	$ 398,469
Unitholders' interest in net income per unit (basic and diluted):
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.05	$ 0	$ 0.27	$ 0.04
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ 0.08	$ 0.06
Net income (loss), basic and diluted, per unit	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.35	$ 0.10
Distributions declared, per unit	$ 0.125	$ 0.125	$ 0.375	$ 0.375
Weighted average number of units outstanding, basic and diluted	42,772,928	42,772,928	42,772,928	35,572,562