OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	$ 205,738	$ 188,320	$ 179,321
Real estate expenses	88,355	79,100	73,137
Net operating income (loss)	117,383	109,220	106,184
Depreciation/amortization	(55,009)	(49,832)	(42,784)
Impairment of real estate investments	(57,028)	(5,543)	(4,663)
General and administrative expenses	(12,075)	(11,267)	(11,824)
Acquisition and investment related costs	(3,276)	(830)	(362)
Other expenses	(3,796)	(2,231)	(1,647)
Interest expense	(41,127)	(35,768)	(34,447)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(3,099)	(106)
Interest and other income	1,176	398	780
(Loss) income before gain on sale of real estate and other investments, gain on bargain purchase and income from discontinued operations	(56,851)	4,041	11,237
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	18,701	9,640	6,093
Gain on bargain purchase		3,424
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(38,150)	17,105	17,330
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	68,675	59,497	11,354
NET INCOME	30,525	76,602	28,684
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	1,677,481	1,681,471
Less accumulated depreciation	(340,417)	(312,889)
Total property owned	1,337,064	1,368,582
Assets held for sale and assets of discontinued operations	37,708	220,537
Cash and cash equivalents	28,819	66,698	48,970	$ 47,267
Other investments		50
Receivables and other assets	52,468	26,535
Development in progress		51,681
Unimproved land	18,455	20,939
TOTAL ASSETS	1,474,514	1,755,022
Amounts Not Allocated to Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate expenses	5,620	4,031	3,965
Net operating income (loss)	(5,620)	(4,031)	(3,965)
Multi-Family Residential [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	144,743	131,149	118,526
Real estate expenses	63,292	57,130	48,668
Net operating income (loss)	81,451	74,019	69,858
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	1,260,541	1,243,909
Less accumulated depreciation	(232,592)	(209,156)
Total property owned	1,027,949	1,034,753
Healthcare [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	49,856	45,621	44,153
Real estate expenses	16,419	15,439	15,244
Net operating income (loss)	33,437	30,182	28,909
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	323,148	337,920
Less accumulated depreciation	(86,139)	(83,558)
Total property owned	237,009	254,362
All Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue	11,139	11,550	16,642
Real estate expenses	3,024	2,500	5,260
Net operating income (loss)	8,115	9,050	$ 11,382
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned	93,792	99,642
Less accumulated depreciation	(21,686)	(20,175)
Total property owned	$ 72,106	$ 79,467