Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investment in mortgages and loans, net		$ 1,244,191	$ 1,280,285
Real estate, accumulated depreciation		35,359	138,214
Investments in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation	[1]	434,890	716,432
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization		8,776	22,230
Indebtedness, unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		30,637	36,892
Indebtedness, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		$ 1,588,067	$ 1,751,082
Preferred shares, authorized		25,000,000	25,000,000
Common shares, par value		$ 0.03	$ 0.03
Common shares, shares authorized		200,000,000	200,000,000
Common shares, shares issued		93,105,742	92,295,478
Common shares, shares outstanding		93,105,742	92,295,478
Unvested restricted common share awards		1,576,040	1,079,193
VIE
Investment in mortgages and loans, net		$ 1,199,111	$ 1,184,588
Real estate, accumulated depreciation		8,604	31,652
Investments in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		106,005	192,070
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization		341	3,740
Indebtedness, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		$ 1,185,657	$ 1,288,258
Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares authorized		4,000,000	4,000,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		3,133,720	3,536,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		3,133,720	3,536,000
7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		8,069,288	8,069,288
Preferred shares, dividend rate		7.75%	7.75%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		5,344,353	5,344,353
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		5,344,353	5,344,353
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
8.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		4,300,000	4,300,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate		8.375%	8.375%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		2,340,969	2,340,969
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		2,340,969	2,340,969
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
8.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		3,600,000	3,600,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate		8.875%	8.875%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		1,640,425	1,640,425
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		1,640,425	1,640,425
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		4,000,000	4,000,000
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01

[1] As of June 30, 2017, one of our multifamily properties, with a carrying amount of $5,932, and two of our parcels of land, with a carrying amount of $14,586, were considered held-for-sale. As of December 31, 2016, three of our multifamily properties, with a carrying amount of $62,428, and two of our parcels of land, with a carrying amount of $14,233, were considered held-for-sale.