Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (7,423)	$ (85,341)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flow from operating activities:
Provision for losses	1,000	500
Share-based compensation expense	1,449	723
Depreciation and amortization	12,042	8,570
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts	1,853	1,575
Accretion of discounts on investments	(275)	(3,037)
(Gains) losses on assets	(2,224)	3
(Gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	(2,421)	0
Change in fair value of financial instruments	24,139	99,757
Provision (benefit for deferred taxes)	(250)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accrued interest receivable	(2,106)	(2,845)
Other assets	(7,308)	(3,065)
Accrued interest payable	(3,946)	(4,242)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(10,570)	(2,152)
Deferred taxes, borrowers' escrows and other liabilities	18,321	(840)
Cash flow from operating activities	22,281	9,606
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of other securities	5	377
Purchase and origination of loans for investment	(225,403)	(97,062)
Principal repayments on loans	18,276	5,610
Sales of conduit loans	72,422	41,428
Investments in real estate	(87,816)	(4,658)
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	3,820	0
(Increase) Decrease in restricted cash	34,563	5,122
Cash flow from investing activities	(184,133)	(49,183)
Financing activities:
Repayments on secured credit facilities and loans payable on real estate	(6,777)	(7,502)
Proceeds from secured credit facilities and loans payable on real estate	18,850	0
Repayments and repurchase of CDO notes payable	(57,097)	(7,872)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes	16,750	0
Proceeds from repurchase agreements	106,652	5,310
Repayments of repurchase agreements	(45,318)	(2,060)
Issuance (acquisition) of noncontrolling interests	51,408	102
Payments for deferred costs and convertible senior note hedges	(2,113)	57
Preferred share issuance, net of costs incurred	33,584	14,509
Common share issuance, net of costs incurred	83,825	6,864
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders	(5,329)	0
Distributions paid to common shareholders	(11,358)	(6,018)
Cash flow from financing activities	183,077	3,390
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	21,225	(36,187)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	88,847	100,041
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	110,072	63,854
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	6,682	6,031
Cash paid (refunds received) for taxes	39	132
Non-cash decrease in indebtedness from conversion to shares or debt extinguishments	(2,421)	0
Non-cash increase in indebtedness from the assumption of debt from property acquisitions	111,986	0
Non-cash increase in other assets from business combination	$ 7,302	$ 0