Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financial assets:
Loans and investments, net	$ 1,450,334,341	$ 1,459,475,650
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	2,022,030	2,499,709
Financial liabilities:
Credit and repurchase facilities	136,252,135	180,046,999
Collateralized loan obligations	758,899,661	453,101,661
Collateralized debt obligations		331,219,478
Senior unsecured notes	93,764,994	93,036,503
Junior subordinated notes	157,117,130	156,391,419
Principal / Notional Amount
Financial assets:
Loans and investments, net	1,545,126,045	1,587,429,498
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	1,610,505	2,158,789
Derivative financial instruments	84,100,000	74,700,544
Financial liabilities:
Credit and repurchase facilities	137,325,474	180,386,200
Collateralized loan obligations	768,000,000	458,250,000
Collateralized debt obligations		312,071,055
Senior unsecured notes	97,860,025	97,860,025
Junior subordinated notes	175,858,000	175,858,000
Note payable		1,300,000
Mortgage note payable - real estate owned and held-for-sale	27,155,000	30,984,357
Derivative financial instruments	107,820,995	250,321,272
Carrying Value
Financial assets:
Loans and investments, net	1,450,334,341	1,459,475,650
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	2,022,030	2,499,709
Derivative financial instruments	3,345	1,995
Financial liabilities:
Credit and repurchase facilities	136,252,135	180,046,999
Collateralized loan obligations	758,899,661	453,101,661
Collateralized debt obligations		331,219,478
Senior unsecured notes	93,764,994	93,036,503
Junior subordinated notes	157,117,130	156,391,419
Note payable		1,300,000
Mortgage note payable - real estate owned and held-for-sale	27,155,000	30,984,357
Derivative financial instruments	4,669,273	13,908,163
Fair Value
Financial assets:
Loans and investments, net	1,481,353,410	1,478,778,674
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	2,022,030	2,499,709
Derivative financial instruments	3,345	1,995
Financial liabilities:
Credit and repurchase facilities	137,072,691	179,964,341
Collateralized loan obligations	766,065,400	459,673,750
Collateralized debt obligations		240,541,397
Senior unsecured notes	96,294,265	95,902,825
Junior subordinated notes	104,073,847	102,600,561
Note payable		1,292,461
Mortgage note payable - real estate owned and held-for-sale	27,111,231	29,962,066
Derivative financial instruments	$ 4,669,273	$ 13,908,163