Deferred Costs, Gross

No definition available.

Name:	crpiii_DeferredCostsGross
Namespace Prefix:	crpiii_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Due on Investments in Partnerships

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crpiii_DueOnInvestmentsInPartnerships
Namespace Prefix:	crpiii_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Equity Method Investment, Expected Net Sales Proceeds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crpiii_EquityMethodInvestmentExpectedNetSalesProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	crpiii_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Method Investment, Sale Price

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crpiii_EquityMethodInvestmentSalePrice
Namespace Prefix:	crpiii_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the amount of net sales proceeds received on disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 35

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32847-111569

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNetSalesProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph h

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 32

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32787-111569

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the amount of gain (loss) arising from the disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount of the entity's equity method investment which has been sold. This item is used only for purposes of disclosing the calculated gain (loss) on disposal of the subject equity method investment and not for reporting the carrying value of equity method investments as presented on the entity's balance sheet. For reporting the carrying value of equity method investments presented on the entity's balance sheet, the EquityMethodInvestments (Equity Method Investments) element would be used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSoldCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph 5

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 57

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Due on Investments and Sale of Local Limited Partnership (Details) (USD $)			6 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Local Partnerships [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Villa Mirage [Member]	Nov. 15, 2011 Villa Mirage [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Villa Mirage [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Monterey/Hillcrest [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Monterey/Hillcrest [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Monterey/Hillcrest [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Monterey/Hillcrest [Member]	Jun. 18, 2012 Meadow Lanes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Meadow Lanes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Meadow Lanes [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Managing General Partner [Member] Villa Mirage [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Managing General Partner [Member] Monterey/Hillcrest [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Due on investments in partnerships	$ 119,544	$ 119,544										$ 119,544	$ 119,544
Interest Payable												33,976	33,976
Aggregate sales price of properties					6,500,000			18,920,000			2,900,000
Expected proceeds as a result of sale								3,694,108				2,592,509
Proceeds received as a result of sale				1,903,349					3,611,288
Investment balance												2,633,718	2,582,473
Investment balance at time of sale				195,662			0
Net unamortized acquisition costs and property purchase costs								3,656
Fees paid to related party in connection with transaction														325,000	946,000
Gain recorded as a result of sale						1,382,687				2,774,452
Impairment loss as a result of sale			$ 41,209									$ 41,209