Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 50,073	$ 63,493	$ (289,975)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flow from operating activities:
Provision for loan losses	8,050	8,300	5,500
Share-based compensation expense	7,720	4,466	4,407
Depreciation and amortization	78,804	73,868	56,784
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts	20,796	17,943	10,786
Accretion of discounts on investments	(1,039)	(2,045)	(6,449)
Amortization of above/below market leases	(1,780)	(104)	1,438
(Gains) losses on assets	(85,535)	(43,805)	5,370
(Gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	(379)		(2,421)
(Gains) losses on deconsolidation of VIEs			215,804
TSRE financing extinguishment expenses		23,219
(Gains) on IRT merger with TSRE	(732)	(64,604)
Asset impairment	37,785	8,179
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, exclusive of transaction costs	(49,938)
Change in fair value of financial instruments	5,946	(11,638)	98,752
Provision (benefit) for deferred taxes	2,212	2,484	(2,326)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable	5,145	(2,665)	(10,242)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	116	4,339	(13,722)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable	3,065	2,558	(22,474)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,280	(23,120)	16,307
Increase (decrease) in borrowers’ escrows and other liabilities	2,266	(8,922)	13,848
Origination of conduit loans	(13,800)	(389,054)	(441,745)
Sales of conduit loans	35,177	424,979	409,667
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities	109,232	87,871	49,309
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales or repayments of other securities		31,241	48,977
Purchase and origination of loans for investment	(154,212)	(598,146)	(509,340)
Principal repayments on loans	425,050	291,228	156,329
Investments in real estate	(30,358)	(52,482)	(367,269)
IRT's acquisition of TSRE, net of cash acquired		(137,096)
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate	317,444	87,573	3,821
Proceeds from sale of interest in IRT, net of cash deconsolidated	31,572
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	43,000
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(23,049)	(25,430)	32,380
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	609,447	(403,112)	(635,102)
Financing activities:
Repayments on secured credit facilities and loans payable on real estate	(259,523)	(274,765)	(36,622)
Proceeds from secured credit facilities, term loans and loans payable on real estate	206,680	488,725	161,080
Repayments and repurchase of CDO notes payable and floating rate securitizations	(717,338)	(282,680)	(244,815)
Net proceeds from issuance of CDO notes and floating rate securitizations	239,236	476,191	336,262
Proceeds from issuance of 4.0% convertible senior notes			16,750
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			131,905
Repurchase of convertible notes and senior notes	(47,614)
Repayments of senior secured notes	(8,000)	(8,000)
Net proceeds (repayments) related to conduit loan repurchase agreements	(36,922)	(19,035)	28,307
Net proceeds (repayments) related to floating rate loan repurchase agreements	(33,724)	31,050	18,996
Proceeds from issuance of other indebtedness	24,796
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(23,266)	(22,083)	(21,132)
Issuance of noncontrolling interests	689		187,797
TSRE financing extinguishment expenses		(23,219)
Payments for deferred costs and convertible senior note hedges	(8,098)	(16,547)	(16,536)
Preferred share issuance, net of costs incurred	610	13,055	49,917
Common share issuance, net of costs incurred	(2,052)	41,443	85,004
Repurchase of Series D preferred shares	(11,600)
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders	(24,776)	(24,166)	(23,522)
Distributions paid to common shareholders	(33,132)	(60,568)	(54,719)
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities	(734,034)	319,401	618,672
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(15,355)	4,160	32,879
Net change in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	(38,305)	23,542	11,429
Net change in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	22,950	(19,382)	21,450
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	87,581	106,963	85,513
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$ 110,531	$ 87,581	$ 106,963