Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 24,205,247	$ 49,193,343
Restricted cash	7,836,842	11,685,729
Interest receivable	5,806,290us-gaap_InterestReceivable	4,121,486us-gaap_InterestReceivable
Mortgage revenue bonds held in trust, at fair value	426,022,847	378,423,092
Mortgage revenue bonds, at fair value	81,875,851us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	70,601,045us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Public housing capital fund trusts, at fair value	60,272,941	61,263,123
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure, Mortgage-backed Securities	14,884,339	14,841,558
Real estate assets:
Land and improvements	15,590,493us-gaap_LandAndLandImprovements	15,589,893us-gaap_LandAndLandImprovements
Buildings and improvements	132,000,442	131,910,221
Real estate assets before accumulated depreciation	147,590,935us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	147,500,114us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Accumulated depreciation	(26,327,145)	(24,691,800)
Net real estate assets	121,263,790us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	122,808,314us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Other assets	30,564,221us-gaap_OtherAssets	31,301,527us-gaap_OtherAssets
Total assets	772,732,368us-gaap_Assets	744,239,217us-gaap_Assets
Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	4,995,537	4,627,089
Distribution payable	7,607,693us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrent	7,617,390us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrent
Debt financing	379,307,493atax_DebtFinancing	345,359,000atax_DebtFinancing
Mortgages payable	76,445,451us-gaap_LongTermDebt	76,707,834us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net	1,165,855	0
Total Liabilities	469,522,029us-gaap_Liabilities	434,311,313us-gaap_Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies
Partners' Capital
General Partner	512,533us-gaap_GeneralPartnersCapitalAccount	578,238us-gaap_GeneralPartnersCapitalAccount
Beneficial Unit Certificate holders	323,952,314us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccount	330,457,117us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccount
Unallocated deficit of Consolidated VIEs	(21,237,622)	(21,091,456)
Total Partners' Capital	303,227,225us-gaap_PartnersCapital	309,943,899us-gaap_PartnersCapital
Noncontrolling interest	(16,886)	(15,995)
Total Capital	303,210,339	309,927,904
Total Liabilities and Partners' Capital	$ 772,732,368	$ 744,239,217

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity, which is held in trust, whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may by ued in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all sescuritized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

No definition available.