Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Investment interest income	$ 89,203	$ 98,432	$ 133,419
Investment interest expense	(35,806)	(29,250)	(30,310)
Net interest margin	53,397	69,182	103,109
Property income	112,836	124,157	113,110
Fee and other income	7,374	18,275	21,985
Total revenue	173,607	211,614	238,204
Expenses:
Interest expense	55,049	61,750	47,860
Real estate operating expense	56,894	62,726	59,948
Property management expenses	9,479	9,322	8,667
General and administrative expenses:
Compensation expense	18,437	15,349	15,884
Other general and administrative expenses	13,273	14,708	13,537
Total general and administrative expenses	31,710	30,057	29,421
Acquisition and integration expenses	624	2,332	526
Provision for loan losses	8,050	8,300	5,500
Depreciation and amortization expense	51,304	45,505	44,006
IRT internalization and management transition expenses	6,271
Total expenses	219,381	219,992	195,928
Operating (Loss) Income	(45,774)	(8,378)	42,276
Interest and other income (expense), net	(427)	(1,083)	(21,415)
Gain (losses) on assets	53,272	37,393	(8,252)
Gain (losses) on extinguishment of debt	1,331		2,421
Asset impairment	(37,785)	(8,179)
Gain (losses) on deconsolidation of VIEs			(215,804)
Net gain on sale of collateral management contracts			4,549
Change in fair value of financial instruments	(5,946)	11,638	(98,752)
Income (loss) before taxes	(35,329)	31,391	(294,977)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(2,550)	(2,798)	2,147
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(37,879)	28,593	(292,830)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	40,144	34,900	2,855
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations	47,808
Net income (loss)	50,073	63,493	(289,975)
(Income) loss allocated to preferred shares	(35,160)	(32,830)	(28,993)
(Income) loss allocated to noncontrolling interests	(24,733)	(23,505)	464
Net income (loss) allocable to common shares	(9,820)	7,158	(318,504)
Amount attributable to common shares
Net income (loss) available to common shares from continuing operations	(69,604)	(2,002)	(319,708)
Net income (loss) available to common shares from discontinued operations	59,784	9,160	1,204
Net income (loss)	$ (9,820)	$ 7,158	$ (318,504)
Earnings (loss) per share-Basic:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ (0.77)	$ (0.03)	$ (3.93)
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations	0.66	0.11	0.01
Earnings (loss) per share-Basic	$ (0.11)	$ 0.08	$ (3.92)
Weighted-average shares outstanding-Basic	91,153,861	85,524,073	81,328,129
Earnings (loss) per share-Diluted:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ (0.77)	$ (0.03)	$ (3.93)
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations	0.66	0.11	0.01
Earnings (loss) per share-Diluted	$ (0.11)	$ 0.08	$ (3.92)
Weighted average shares outstanding-Diluted	91,153,861	86,457,871	81,328,129