Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 25,424	$ 279,804	$ 252,319
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Net impairments recognized in earnings		160	49,121
Recovery of provision for loan losses		(36,147)	(19,326)
Valuation allowance on loans held-for-sale	(1,259)		1,456
Gain on investments at fair value	(7,417)
Fair value adjustment on investment in CT Legacy Asset		(51,904)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		(200,283)
Gain on sale of investments		(6,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(38)		(271,031)
Income from equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries		(1,781)	(3,649)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated subsidiaries	8,795	1,933	1,898
Distributions from CT Legacy Asset		9,581
Loss on sale of discontinued operations		271
Non-cash compensation expense	6,242	3,808	3,765
Amortization of premiums/discounts on loans and securities and deferred interest on loans	(6,290)	(566)	(1,872)
Amortization of deferred gains and losses on settlement of swaps		(56)	(109)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and premiums/discount on debt obligations	4,935	12,133	11,984
Loss on interest rate swaps not designated as cash flow hedges	4	2,772	6,336
Changes in assets and liabilities, net
Accrued interest receivable, prepaid expenses, and other assets	139	(3,019)	662
Deferred income taxes		1,268	(611)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities	(1,843)	(5,206)	(2,059)
Net cash provided by operating activities	28,692	6,768	28,884
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from Investment Management Business Sale		21,424
Principal collections and proceeds from securities	416	56,544	94,407
Origination and fundings of loans receivable	(2,327,913)
Origination and exit fees received on loans receivable	25,402
Principal collections and proceeds from the sale of loans receivable	508,302	115,918	2,007,354
Distributions from equity investments	7,151		4,345
Contributions to unconsolidated subsidiaries		(4,030)	(3,413)
Distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries		1,006	3,697
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	4,151	(1,261)	(12,985)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,782,491)	189,601	2,093,405
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment and purchase of secured notes	(11,059)		(405)
Borrowings under repurchase obligations	1,667,623	123,977
Repayments under repurchase obligations	(578,484)	(58,464)	(314,215)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes	168,415
Repayment of securitized debt obligations	(98,965)	(178,945)	(1,821,498)
Proceeds from sale of loan participations	90,000
Borrowings under legacy credit facilities			83,000
Repayments of legacy credit facilities		(63,000)	(47,572)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(8,867)		(11,126)
Settlement of interest rate swaps	(6,123)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	15,000		125
Purchase of and distributions to non-controlling interests	(72,853)	(16)	(144)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	633,807	10,000
Dividends paid on class A common stock	(7,776)	(48,960)
Vesting of restricted class A common stock		(356)	(85)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,790,718	(215,764)	(2,111,920)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	36,919	(19,395)	10,369
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,423	34,818	24,449
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	52,342	15,423	34,818
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Payments of interest	(12,702)	(26,363)	(81,697)
Receipts (payments) of income taxes	8	(2,747)	(4,799)
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Dividends declared, not paid	13,302	804
(Consolidation) deconsolidation of subsidiaries	$ (38,913)	$ 371,621	$ 572,246