Variable Interest Entities Consolidating Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									$ 16,110,740	$ 12,654,530	$ 10,976,250
Investment income									22,651,622	11,078,467	9,187,291
Contingent Interest Income									6,497,160	0	309,990
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds									0	680,444	445,257
Interest Income, Operating									1,772,338	150,882	485,679
Other income									250,000	555,328	294,328
Total revenues	9,432,691	9,764,177	15,140,583	12,944,409	7,579,754	6,312,905	5,855,843	5,371,149	47,281,860	25,119,651	21,698,795
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									9,574,822	7,877,931	6,758,707
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amt									4,557,741	0	0
Provision for loan loss									168,000	0	4,242,571
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									241,698	452,700	952,700
Depreciation and amortization									6,732,580	4,982,030	3,963,502
Interest expense									7,235,336	5,530,995	5,441,700
General and administrative									4,237,245	3,512,233	2,764,970
Costs and Expenses									32,747,422	22,355,889	24,124,150
Income (loss) from operations									14,534,438	2,763,762	(2,425,355)
Income from discontinued operations									3,442,404	2,232,276	752,192
Net income (loss)									17,976,842	4,996,038	(1,673,163)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									261,923	549,194	570,759
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	2,027,074	3,411,259	3,955,160	8,321,426	1,298,797	2,211,567	306,048	630,432	17,714,919	4,446,844	(2,243,922)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax									3,177,183	1,406,608	0
Partnership [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									11,358,718	7,846,812	5,066,443
Investment income									24,109,397	12,599,284	11,205,247
Contingent Interest Income									6,497,160		309,990
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds										680,444	445,257
Interest Income, Operating									1,772,338	150,882	485,679
Other income									250,000	557,300	189,340
Total revenues									43,987,613	21,834,722	17,701,956
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									6,522,091	4,604,870	3,154,290
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amt									(4,557,741)
Provision for loan loss									168,000		4,242,571
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									241,698	452,700	952,700
Depreciation and amortization									5,374,802	3,447,316	2,281,541
Interest expense									7,235,336	5,530,995	5,441,700
General and administrative									4,237,245	3,512,233	2,764,970
Costs and Expenses									28,336,913	17,548,114	18,837,772
Income (loss) from operations									15,650,700	4,286,608	(1,135,816)
Income from discontinued operations									3,442,404	2,232,276	752,192
Net income (loss)									19,093,104	6,518,884	(383,624)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									261,923	549,194	570,759
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									18,831,181	5,969,690	(954,383)
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									4,752,022	4,807,718	5,909,807
Investment income									0	0	0
Contingent Interest Income									0		0
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds										0	0
Interest Income, Operating									0	0	0
Other income									9,186,828	(1,972)	4,133,477
Total revenues									13,938,850	4,805,746	10,043,284
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									3,052,731	3,273,061	3,604,417
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amt									0
Provision for loan loss									0		0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									1,399,548	1,578,275	1,718,899
Interest expense									3,221,000	3,240,306	4,037,725
General and administrative									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses									7,673,279	8,091,642	9,361,041
Income (loss) from operations									6,265,571	(3,285,896)	682,243
Income from discontinued operations									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									6,265,571	(3,285,896)	682,243
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									6,265,571	(3,285,896)	682,243
Consolidations, Eliminations for VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									0	0	0
Investment income									(1,457,775)	(1,520,817)	(2,017,956)
Contingent Interest Income									0		0
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds										0	0
Interest Income, Operating									0	0	0
Other income									(9,186,828)	0	(4,028,489)
Total revenues									(10,644,603)	(1,520,817)	(6,046,445)
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									0	0	0
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amt									0
Provision for loan loss									0		0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									(41,770)	(43,561)	(36,938)
Interest expense									(3,221,000)	(3,240,306)	(4,037,725)
General and administrative									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses									(3,262,770)	(3,283,867)	(4,074,663)
Income (loss) from operations									(7,381,833)	1,763,050	(1,971,782)
Income from discontinued operations									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									(7,381,833)	1,763,050	(1,971,782)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									$ (7,381,833)	$ 1,763,050	$ (1,971,782)