Business Segments - Business segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 8,497	$ 7,679	$ 25,747	$ 22,915
Interest expense	459	410	1,524	1,009
Capital expenditures - Real estate taxes	994	874	3,323	2,593
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			5,663	5,117
Cash items	765		765		$ 1,074
Discontinued operations identifiable net assets					59,465
Total identifiable net assets	249,441		249,441		313,071
Asset Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,509	6,082	20,596	18,422
Operating profit	3,289	2,972	9,862	8,520
Corporate expenses	(185)	(178)	(611)	(534)
Interest expense	459	410	1,524	1,009
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,694	1,612	5,256	4,763
Identifiable net assets	149,864		149,864		144,420
Mining royalty land
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,735	1,395	4,414	3,889
Operating profit	1,576	1,242	3,967	3,438
Corporate expenses	(196)	(189)	(647)	(567)
Capital expenditures	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	39	36	100	92
Identifiable net assets	39,475		39,475		39,368
Land Development and Construction
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	253	202	737	604
Operating profit	(419)	(298)	(1,686)	(1,003)
Corporate expenses	(109)	(105)	(360)	(315)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	72	46	210	138
Identifiable net assets	58,273		58,273		67,136
Combined Land Development and Construction and Asset Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	910	8,784	2,520	12,354
Capital expenditures - Capitalized interest	258	360	827	1,353
Capital expenditures - Internal labor	74	146	258	341
Capital expenditures - Real estate taxes	22	46	88	86
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate expenses	(67)	(53)	(1,051)	(606)
Identifiable net assets	1,064		1,064		$ 1,608
Total Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	8,497	7,679	25,747	22,915
Operating profit	3,889	2,863	8,393	6,861
Unallocated to discontinued operations	0	(528)	(1,081)	(2,072)
Interest expense	459	410	1,524	1,009
Capital expenditures	1,264	9,336	3,693	14,134
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 1,805	$ 1,694	$ 5,566	$ 4,993