Investments in Loans (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012 Loans	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Loans	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Loans
Conversion Details (Textual) [Abstract]
Commercial real estate loan converted to real estate owned property, carrying value			$ 24,871	$ 85,388
Expense related to conversion of commercial real estate loans			2,529	7,088
Number of commercial mortgages loans	15		15		19
Average impaired loans unpaid balance	75,728	130,062	79,811	139,290
Interest income from impaired loans	0	18	62	524
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	73,592		73,592		54,334
Weighted average interest rate	8.10%		8.10%		9.80%
Impaired unpaid principal balance	70,044		70,044		87,977
Other Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	7.20%		7.20%		7.20%
Non accrual of other mortgage loans	$ 18,462		$ 18,462		19,501

Reflects the carrying amount of other mortgage loans that are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date(s).

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount before allowance of commercial loans, includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Reflects the amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from the allowance for loan loss due to the conversion of the commercial real estate loan to an owned property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ras_ConversionOfCommercialRealEstateLoansToOwnedPropertiesExpenseChargedOff
Namespace Prefix:	ras_
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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The weighted average interest rate of commercial real estate loans that are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date(s) .

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ras_
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- Definition

Number of commercial mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Average amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5258-111524

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- Definition

Amount of interest income recognized that the financing receivables (with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses) were impaired.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Amount of unpaid principal balance of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which no interest is continuing to be recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5111-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph g

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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