OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	$ 188,320	$ 179,321	$ 164,590
Real estate expenses	79,100	73,137	69,256
Gain on involuntary conversion			2,480
Net operating income	109,220	106,184	97,814
Depreciation/amortization	(49,832)	(42,784)	(39,712)
Impairment of real estate investments	(5,543)	(4,663)	(7,700)
General and administrative expenses	(11,267)	(11,824)	(10,743)
Acquisition and investment related costs	(830)
Other expenses	(2,231)	(1,647)	(1,850)
Interest expense	(35,768)	(34,447)	(33,729)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(106)
Interest and other income	2,573	2,956	2,148
Income before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments, gain on bargain purchase and income (loss) from discontinued operations	6,216	13,413	5,949
Gain (Loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	9,640	6,093	(51)
Gain on bargain purchase	3,424
Income from continuing operations	19,280	19,506	5,898
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	57,322	9,178	(22,838)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	76,602	28,684	(16,940)
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	1,681,471	1,335,687
Less accumulated depreciation	(312,889)	(279,417)
Total property owned	1,368,582	1,056,270
Assets held for sale and assets of discontinued operations	220,761	675,764
Cash and cash equivalents	66,698	48,970	47,267	$ 94,133
Other investments	50	329
Receivables and other assets	31,466	36,683
Development in progress	51,681	153,994
Unimproved land	20,939	25,827
TOTAL ASSETS	1,760,177	1,997,837
Multi-Family Residential [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	131,149	118,526	102,059
Real estate expenses	60,477	51,172	46,138
Gain on involuntary conversion			2,480
Net operating income	70,672	67,354	58,401
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	1,243,909	946,520
Less accumulated depreciation	(209,156)	(180,414)
Total property owned	1,034,753	766,106
Healthcare [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	45,621	44,153	44,098
Real estate expenses	16,021	16,240	16,351
Gain on involuntary conversion			0
Net operating income	29,600	27,913	27,747
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	337,920	284,342
Less accumulated depreciation	(83,558)	(78,625)
Total property owned	254,362	205,717
Other Segments [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	11,550	16,642	18,433
Real estate expenses	2,602	5,725	6,767
Gain on involuntary conversion			0
Net operating income	8,948	10,917	$ 11,666
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	99,642	104,825
Less accumulated depreciation	(20,175)	(20,378)
Total property owned	$ 79,467	$ 84,447