Segment Reporting (Schedule of Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014 segments		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments					4
Operating lease income	$ 60,967		$ 57,112		$ 123,075		$ 115,128
Interest income	35,127		29,682		63,041		54,349
Other income	29,262		13,125		43,846		24,544
Land sales revenue	4,487		0		8,630		0
Total revenues	129,843		99,919		238,592		194,021
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	24,093		8,323		27,270		30,001
Income from sales of residential property	17,180		34,319		33,674		58,016
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			502	[1]			1,844	[1]
Gain from discontinued operations	0		8,279		0		13,323
Revenue and other earnings	171,116		151,342		299,536		297,205
Real estate expense	(40,554)		(36,981)		(83,167)		(74,815)
Land cost of sales	(3,611)		0		(7,265)		0
Other expense	(4,690)		(146)		(4,911)		(5,770)
Allocated interest expense	(56,530)		(69,157)	[2]	(113,986)		(140,723)	[2]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(23,427)	[3]	(16,157)	[3]	(41,140)	[3]	(32,802)	[3]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	42,304	[4]	28,901	[4]	49,067	[4]	43,095	[4]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	(2,792)	[5]	5,020	[5]	(6,192)	[5]	15,226	[5]
Impairment of assets	3,300		427	[2]	6,279		395	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	18,822		17,400	[2]	37,435		34,854	[2]
Capitalized expenditures	32,138		31,346		60,179		47,660
Real estate, at cost	3,184,770				3,184,770				3,220,634
Less: accumulated depreciation	(443,380)				(443,380)				(424,453)
Real estate, net	2,741,390				2,741,390				2,796,181
Real estate available and held for sale	354,814				354,814				360,517
Total real estate	3,096,204				3,096,204				3,156,698
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	1,456,407	[6]			1,456,407	[6]			1,370,109	[6]
Other investments	241,561				241,561				207,209
Total portfolio assets	4,794,172				4,794,172				4,734,016
Cash and other assets	679,313				679,313				907,995
Total assets	5,473,485				5,473,485				5,642,011
Stock-based compensation expense	3,196		4,719		5,271		9,921
LNR Property LLC (LNR)
Segment Reporting
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	0		1,719		0		16,465
Operating Segments | Real Estate Finance
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income	0		0		0		0
Interest income	35,127		29,682		63,041		54,349
Other income	19,043		290		19,442		2,498
Land sales revenue	0				0
Total revenues	54,170		29,972		82,483		56,847
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	0		0		0		0
Income from sales of residential property	0		0		0		0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			0	[1]			0	[1]
Gain from discontinued operations			0				0
Revenue and other earnings	54,170		29,972		82,483		56,847
Real estate expense	0		0		0		0
Land cost of sales	0				0
Other expense	(303)		(414)		(733)		(1,857)
Allocated interest expense	(15,858)		(18,470)	[2]	(31,310)		(39,532)	[2]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(4,444)	[3]	(2,895)	[3]	(7,534)	[3]	(6,135)	[3]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	33,565	[4]	8,193	[4]	42,906	[4]	9,323	[4]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	(2,792)		5,020		(6,192)		15,226
Impairment of assets	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Capitalized expenditures	0		0		0		0
Real estate, at cost	0				0				0
Less: accumulated depreciation	0				0				0
Real estate, net	0				0				0
Real estate available and held for sale	0				0				0
Total real estate	0				0				0
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	1,456,407				1,456,407				1,370,109
Other investments	0				0				0
Total portfolio assets	1,456,407				1,456,407				1,370,109
Operating Segments | Net Lease
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income	37,674		35,783		76,555		72,436
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Other income	519		0		733		0
Land sales revenue	0				0
Total revenues	38,193		35,783		77,288		72,436
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	862		652		1,148		1,338
Income from sales of residential property	0		0		0		0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			392	[1]			1,001	[1]
Gain from discontinued operations			3,365				3,395
Revenue and other earnings	39,055		40,192		78,436		78,170
Real estate expense	(5,520)		(5,673)		(11,194)		(11,269)
Land cost of sales	0				0
Other expense	0		0		0		0
Allocated interest expense	(18,009)		(20,079)	[2]	(36,619)		(40,069)	[2]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(5,183)	[3]	(3,158)	[3]	(8,982)	[3]	(6,217)	[3]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	10,343	[4]	11,282	[4]	21,641	[4]	20,615	[4]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	0		0		0		0
Impairment of assets	0		0	[2]	2,979		0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	9,682		9,589	[2]	19,810		19,229	[2]
Capitalized expenditures	201		13,889		705		17,656
Real estate, at cost	1,611,446				1,611,446				1,696,888
Less: accumulated depreciation	(352,418)				(352,418)				(338,640)
Real estate, net	1,259,028				1,259,028				1,358,248
Real estate available and held for sale	0				0				0
Total real estate	1,259,028				1,259,028				1,358,248
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	0				0				0
Other investments	33,740				33,740				16,408
Total portfolio assets	1,292,768				1,292,768				1,374,656
Operating Segments | Operating Properties
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income	23,117		21,329		46,118		42,692
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Other income	7,874		11,440		20,540		19,579
Land sales revenue	0				0
Total revenues	30,991		32,769		66,658		62,271
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	731		1,816		948		4,473
Income from sales of residential property	17,180		30,842		33,674		54,539
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			110	[1]			843	[1]
Gain from discontinued operations			4,914				9,928
Revenue and other earnings	48,902		70,451		101,280		132,054
Real estate expense	(28,929)		(24,781)		(57,543)		(50,515)
Land cost of sales	0				0
Other expense	0		0		0		0
Allocated interest expense	(10,229)		(12,452)	[2]	(20,488)		(25,935)	[2]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(3,078)	[3]	(2,147)	[3]	(5,267)	[3]	(4,410)	[3]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	6,666	[4]	31,071	[4]	17,982	[4]	51,194	[4]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	0		0		0		0
Impairment of assets	3,900		427	[2]	3,900		395	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	8,368		7,231	[2]	16,232		14,437	[2]
Capitalized expenditures	13,564		9,485		26,418		14,406
Real estate, at cost	744,212				744,212				720,508
Less: accumulated depreciation	(86,747)				(86,747)				(82,420)
Real estate, net	657,465				657,465				638,088
Real estate available and held for sale	232,771				232,771				228,328
Total real estate	890,236				890,236				866,416
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	0				0				0
Other investments	15,097				15,097				16,032
Total portfolio assets	905,333				905,333				882,448
Operating Segments | Land
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income	176		0		402		0
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Other income	143		0		369		500
Land sales revenue	4,487				8,630
Total revenues	4,806		0		9,401		500
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	(151)		(1,511)		(409)		(3,090)
Income from sales of residential property	0		3,477		0		3,477
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			0	[1]			0	[1]
Gain from discontinued operations			0				0
Revenue and other earnings	4,655		1,966		8,992		887
Real estate expense	(6,105)		(6,527)		(14,430)		(13,031)
Land cost of sales	(3,611)				(7,265)
Other expense	0		0		0		0
Allocated interest expense	(7,294)		(7,943)	[2]	(14,453)		(15,625)	[2]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(4,224)	[3]	(1,788)	[3]	(7,273)	[3]	(3,635)	[3]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	(16,579)	[4]	(14,292)	[4]	(34,429)	[4]	(31,404)	[4]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	0		0		0		0
Impairment of assets	(600)		0	[2]	(600)		0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	490		265	[2]	794		530	[2]
Capitalized expenditures	18,373		7,972		33,056		15,598
Real estate, at cost	829,112				829,112				803,238
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,215)				(4,215)				(3,393)
Real estate, net	824,897				824,897				799,845
Real estate available and held for sale	122,043				122,043				132,189
Total real estate	946,940				946,940				932,034
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	0				0				0
Other investments	49,367				49,367				29,765
Total portfolio assets	996,307				996,307				961,799
Corporate, Non-Segment | Corporate/Other
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Interest income	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Other income	1,683	[7]	1,395	[7]	2,762	[7]	1,967	[7]
Land sales revenue	0	[7]			0	[7]
Total revenues	1,683	[7]	1,395	[7]	2,762	[7]	1,967	[7]
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	22,651	[7]	7,366	[7]	25,583	[7]	27,280	[7]
Income from sales of residential property	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(4)			0	[1],[7]			0	[1],[7]
Gain from discontinued operations			0	[7]			0	[7]
Revenue and other earnings	24,334	[7]	8,761	[7]	28,345	[7]	29,247	[7]
Real estate expense	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Land cost of sales	0	[7]			0	[7]
Other expense	(4,387)	[7]	268	[7]	(4,178)	[7]	(3,913)	[7]
Allocated interest expense	(5,140)	[7]	(10,213)	[2],[7]	(11,116)	[7]	(19,562)	[2],[7]
Allocated general and administrative(2)	(6,498)	[3],[7]	(6,169)	[3],[7]	(12,084)	[3],[7]	(12,405)	[3],[7]
Segment profit (loss)(3)	8,309	[4],[7]	(7,353)	[4],[7]	967	[4],[7]	(6,633)	[4],[7]
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Impairment of assets	0	[7]	0	[2],[7]	0	[7]	0	[2],[7]
Depreciation and amortization	282	[7]	315	[2],[7]	599	[7]	658	[2],[7]
Capitalized expenditures	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]
Real estate, at cost	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Less: accumulated depreciation	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Real estate, net	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Real estate available and held for sale	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Total real estate	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	0	[7]			0	[7]			0	[7]
Other investments	143,357	[7]			143,357	[7]			145,004	[7]
Total portfolio assets	$ 143,357	[7]			$ 143,357	[7]			$ 145,004	[7]

[1] For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, excludes certain amounts reclassified to discontinued operations on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, includes related amounts reclassified to discontinued operations on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[3] General and administrative excludes stock-based compensation expense of $3.2 million and $5.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and $4.7 million and $9.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

[4] The following is a reconciliation of segment profit (loss) to net income (loss) ($ in thousands): For the Three Months EndedJune 30, For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 2013 2014 2013Segment profit (loss)$42,304 $28,901 $49,067 $43,095Less: (Provision for) recovery of loan losses2,792 (5,020) 6,192 (15,226)Less: Impairment of assets(4)(3,300) (427) (6,279) (395)Less: Stock-based compensation expense(3,196) (4,719) (5,271) (9,921)Less: Depreciation and amortization(4)(18,822) (17,400) (37,435) (34,854)Less: Income tax (expense) benefit(4)215 (491) 722 (4,566)Less: Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net(23,587) (15,242) (24,767) (24,784)Net income (loss)$(3,594) $(14,398) $(17,771) $(46,651)

[5] For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the provision for loan losses includes recoveries of previously recorded loan loss reserves of $2.4 million and $7.6 million, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, the provision for loan losses includes recoveries of previously recorded loan loss reserves of $6.4 million and $11.0 million, respectively.

[6] The Company's recorded investment in loans as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 also includes accrued interest of $7.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively, which are included in "Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[7] Corporate/Other represents all corporate level and unallocated items including any intercompany eliminations necessary to reconcile to consolidated Company totals. This caption also includes the Company's joint venture investments and strategic investments that are not related to the other reportable segments above, including the Company's share of equity in earnings from LNR of $1.7 million and $16.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. See Note 6 for further details on the Company's investment in LNR and summarized financial information of LNR.