Investments in Partnerships - Summarized Financial Information - Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 partnership		Dec. 31, 2011 partnership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Local Partnerships	3
Local Partnerships [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Local Partnerships	3		5
Rental property, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	$ 1,817,605		$ 4,192,288
Land	1,359,796		3,089,572
Other assets	1,251,979		7,864,283
Total assets	4,429,380		15,146,143
Mortgage notes payable	3,898,568		11,987,903
Other liabilities	2,529,884		3,251,299
Due to general partners	0		0
Total liabilities	6,428,452		15,239,202
Partners' capital (deficit)	(1,999,072)		(93,059)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	4,429,380		15,146,143
Local Partnership Equity Method [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Local Partnerships	1	[1]	2	[2]
Rental property, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	602,910		710,424
Accumulated depreciation	2,869,944		2,742,918
Land	176,923		176,923
Other assets	524,769		5,334,742
Total assets	1,304,602		6,222,089
Mortgage notes payable	0		60,516
Other liabilities	74,752		90,588
Due to general partners	0		0
Total liabilities	74,752		151,104
Partners' capital (deficit)	1,229,850		6,070,985
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,304,602		6,222,089
Local Partnership Equity Method Suspended [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Local Partnerships	2	[3]	3	[4]
Rental property, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	1,214,695		3,481,864
Accumulated depreciation	8,904,400		23,232,543
Land	1,182,873		2,912,649
Other assets	727,210		2,529,541
Total assets	3,124,778		8,924,054
Mortgage notes payable	3,898,568		11,927,387
Other liabilities	2,455,132		3,160,711
Due to general partners	0		0
Total liabilities	6,353,700		15,088,098
Partners' capital (deficit)	(3,228,922)		(6,164,044)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 3,124,778		$ 8,924,054

[1] Tradewinds

[2] Mary Allen West Tower; Tradewinds

[3] Northridge; Westport Village

[4] Fairway Park; Westport Village; Northridge