Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,486	$ 981,982
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Accretion of mortgage securities	(1,337)	(1,903)
Provision for bad debt on notes receivable	0	452
Amortization of premiums on mortgage loans	0	430
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs and senior debentures discount	559	494
Provision for credit losses	0	17,433
Fair value adjustments of trading securities, CDO debt and contingent consideration	(498)	(475)
Gain on derecognition of securitization trusts	0	(993,131)
(Gains) losses on derivative instruments	0	(26)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets	234	5
Forgiveness of founders' promissory notes	0	35
Compensation recognized under stock compensation plans	190	211
Depreciation expense	975	369
Changes in:
Accrued interest receivable	0	1,300
Service fee receivable	(1,399)	0
Other current assets and liabilities, net	(858)	2,171
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	69	(1,309)
Due to servicer	0	(5,080)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,072	2,180
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,493	5,138
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from paydowns of mortgage securities	1,245	3,147
Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans held-in-portfolio	0	15,040
Proceeds from sales of assets acquired through foreclosure	0	15,154
Restricted cash, net	214	5,192
Proceeds from paydowns of notes receivable	87	441
Issuance of notes receivable	0	(657)
Purchases of property and equipment	(753)	(8)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	0	(609)
Net cash provided by investing activities	793	37,700
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on asset-backed bonds	0	(35,341)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(204)	(88)
Payments to Preferred Stockholders for Preferred Stock Exchange	(3,005)	0
Other	0	(45)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,209)	(35,474)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	77	7,364
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	12,582	7,104
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	12,659	14,468
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash paid for interest	1,424	3,381
Cash paid for income taxes	0	257
Cash received on mortgage securities - available-for-sale with no cost basis	4,303	2,594
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired through foreclosure	0	6,283
Exchange of noncontrolling interests' notes receivable for contingent earnings payout	0	366
Preferred stock dividends accrued, subsequently eliminated	8,428	8,051
Transfer of assets and liabilities upon derecognition of securitization trusts:
Mortgage loans - held-in-portfolio, net of allowance	0	1,250,287
Accrued interest receivable	0	72,725
Real estate owned	0	55,309
Asset-backed bonds secured by mortgage loans	0	2,235,633
Due to servicer	0	131,772
Other liabilities	0	4,047
Exchange of redeemable preferred stock and convertible participating preferred stock:
Elimination of accrued dividends	59,328	0
Cancellation of redeemable preferred stock	30	0
Cancellation of convertible participating preferred stock	21	0
Issuance of common stock	810	0
Decrease of additional paid-in capital	39,896	0
Decrease of accumulated deficit	$ 95,460	$ 0