Discontined Operations Discontinued Operations Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	$ 0		$ 0		$ 32,580,427
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties			3,177,183	1,277,976
Interest Income, Operating	216,993	15,224	1,558,158	97,996
Other income	0	0	250,000	0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,342,498	1,526,964	3,442,404	2,013,713
churchland [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax		(62,000)		(198,000)
Eagle Ridge [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax		(40,000)		(106,000)
Greens of Pine Glen [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Limited Partners' Contributed Capital	800,000		800,000		961,000
Available-for-Sale Securities, Asset Ownership					100.00%
Available-for-sale Security, Maturity Date at a point in time					Oct. 01, 2047
Loans Payable					850,000
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation					12,200,000
business disposal, sales price					7,300,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	1,401,656		3,177,183
Investment Income, Interest	500,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,442,404		1,342,498
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	59,158	(6,000)	(265,221)	(32,000)
Greens of Pine Glen [Member] | Boston Capital Limited Partners [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Limited Partners					2
Greens of Pine Glen [Member] | Series A [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					6.50%
Available-for-sale Securities, at Par Value					8,500,000
Greens of Pine Glen [Member] | Series B [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					12.00%
Available-for-sale Securities, at Par Value					950,000
Ohio Properties [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Limited Partners' Contributed Capital	6,500,000		6,500,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	1,775,527
Investment Income, Interest	3,500,000
Interest Income, Operating	1,100,000
Other income	250,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 142,000		$ 400,000