SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 segment	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	2					5
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue		$ 45,638	$ 41,866	$ 91,584	$ 82,844
Net operating income		26,302	23,148	52,719	46,599
Casualty loss		(225)	(115)	(450)	(600)
Depreciation/amortization		(19,191)	(17,270)	(37,803)	(42,608)
Impairment of real estate investments				0	(256)
General and administrative expenses		(3,374)	(3,118)	(7,244)	(7,120)
Interest expense		(7,997)	(8,509)	(16,382)	(16,640)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(4)	(334)	(556)	(533)
Interest and other income		429	255	945	483
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate and other investments and income (loss) from discontinued operations		(5,379)	(7,315)	(11,457)	(23,403)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments		(232)	5,324	8,992	5,448
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(5,611)	(1,991)	(2,465)	(17,955)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		0	15,130	570	17,815
NET INCOME (LOSS)		(5,611)	13,139	(1,895)	(140)
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned		1,638,072		1,638,072			$ 1,669,764
Less accumulated depreciation		(345,015)		(345,015)			(311,324)
Total property owned		1,293,057		1,293,057			1,358,440
Cash and cash equivalents		12,777		12,777			11,891	$ 0
Restricted cash	$ 3,782	5,085	3,782	5,085	3,782		4,225
Other assets		29,769		29,769			30,297
Unimproved land		6,522		6,522			11,476
Mortgage loans receivable		10,530		10,530			10,329
TOTAL ASSETS		1,357,740		1,357,740			1,426,658
Operating Segments [Member] | Multi-Family Residential [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue		43,874	37,457	86,963	73,455
Net operating income		25,106	20,256	49,709	40,521
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned		1,580,260		1,580,260			1,606,421
Less accumulated depreciation		(328,075)		(328,075)			(294,477)
Total property owned		1,252,185		1,252,185			1,311,944
Operating Segments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Real estate revenue		1,764	4,409	4,621	9,389
Net operating income		1,196	2,892	3,010	6,078
Segment Assets [Abstract]
Property owned		57,812		57,812			63,343
Less accumulated depreciation		(16,940)		(16,940)			(16,847)
Total property owned		40,872		40,872			$ 46,496
Real Estate [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management expense		19,336	18,718	38,865	36,245
Property management expense		(19,336)	(18,718)	(38,865)	(36,245)
Real Estate [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Multi-Family Residential [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management expense		18,768	17,201	37,254	32,934
Property management expense		(18,768)	(17,201)	(37,254)	(32,934)
Real Estate [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management expense		568	1,517	1,611	3,311
Property management expense		(568)	(1,517)	(1,611)	(3,311)
Management Service [Member]
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management expense		1,319	1,372	2,686	2,728
Property management expense		$ (1,319)	$ (1,372)	$ (2,686)	$ (2,728)