SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 46,934	$ 46,197	$ 92,542	$ 89,232
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	19,516	18,937	39,552	38,204
Net operating income	27,418	27,260	52,990	51,028
Casualty gain (loss)	(92)	0	(733)	(50)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,437)	(19,132)	(36,548)	(39,648)
Impairment of real estate investments	0	(17,809)	0	(17,809)
Loss on impairment		(17,809)
General and administrative expenses	(3,549)	(4,348)	(7,355)	(7,967)
Interest expense	(7,590)	(8,562)	(15,486)	(16,858)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(407)	(12)	(409)	(133)
Interest and other income	468	460	892	1,149
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments, gain (loss) on litigation settlement, and income (loss) from discontinued operations	(3,634)	(23,587)	(9,648)	(33,109)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	615	0	669	2,304
Gain (loss) on litigation settlement	6,286	0	6,286	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,267	(23,587)	(2,693)	(30,805)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	238	0	14,120
NET INCOME (LOSS)	3,267	(23,349)	(2,693)	(16,685)
Segment assets
Property owned	1,663,539		1,663,539		$ 1,627,636
Less accumulated depreciation	(380,321)		(380,321)		(353,871)
Total property owned	1,283,218		1,283,218		1,273,765
Cash and cash equivalents	17,406	20,451	17,406	20,451	13,792
Restricted cash	4,672	4,454	4,672	4,454	5,464
Other assets	30,626		30,626		27,265
Unimproved land	1,746		1,746		5,301
Mortgage loans receivable	10,140		10,140		10,410
TOTAL ASSETS	1,347,808		1,347,808		1,335,997
Management Service
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management	(1,445)	(1,444)	(2,999)	(2,821)
Operating Segments | Multifamily
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	45,945	43,149	90,759	83,203
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	19,111	17,826	38,799	35,954
Net operating income	26,834	25,323	51,960	47,249
Segment assets
Property owned	1,628,133		1,628,133		1,582,917
Less accumulated depreciation	(371,213)		(371,213)		(340,081)
Total property owned	1,256,920		1,256,920		1,242,836
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	989	3,048	1,783	6,029
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	405	1,111	753	2,250
Net operating income	584	$ 1,937	1,030	$ 3,779
Segment assets
Property owned	35,406		35,406		44,719
Less accumulated depreciation	(9,108)		(9,108)		(13,790)
Total property owned	$ 26,298		$ 26,298		$ 30,929