Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 23,560	$ 1,100
Net income (loss)	29,006	1,342
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	6,606	16,212
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary	(46,184)	0
Net unrealized loss (gain) on interest rate swaps	0	(343)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	554
Non cash compensation expense	1,233	1,798
Amortization/accretion of premiums and discounts	169	345
Depreciation and amortization expense	2,958	7,921
Provision for doubtful accounts	64	129
Amortization of deferred financing costs	329	665
Loss on extinguishment of debt	428	0
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	10,759	1,166
Mortgage loans originated for sale	(360,542)	(347,601)
Proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans originated for sale	390,747	405,637
(Increase) decrease in notes and accounts receivable	(15,234)	(10,253)
(Increase) decrease in reinsurance receivables	(9,444)	(15,540)
(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs	4,016	4,896
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(19,139)	4,027
Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums	17,639	3,146
Increase (decrease) in policy liabilities and unpaid claims	5,737	1,232
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	1,604	(1,213)
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Payables	5,624	19,148
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities and accrued expenses	(9,713)	(10,347)
Operating activities from consolidated CLOs	0	(1,333)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,451	49,164
Investing Activities:
Purchases of investments	(103,857)	(43,024)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments	76,291	51,108
(Increase) decrease in loans owned, at amortized cost, net	0	19,393
Purchases of real estate capital expenditures	(592)	(500)
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate Held-for-investment	4,200	2,028
Purchases of corporate fixed assets	(614)	(780)
Proceeds from Divestiture of Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries	3,561	0
Proceeds from notes receivable	7,803	13,682
Issuance of notes receivable	(7,778)	(18,701)
Business and asset acquisitions, net of cash and deposits	0	(16,601)
Investing activities from consolidated CLOs	0	21,618
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(20,986)	28,223
Financing Activities:
Non-controlling interest contributions	0	1,318
Non-controlling interest distributions	(241)	(527)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(346)	(88)
Proceeds from borrowings and mortgage notes payable	363,590	384,933
Principal paydowns of borrowings and mortgage notes payable	(395,625)	(434,435)
Repurchase of common stock	(187)	0
Financing activities from CLOs	0	(21,410)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(32,809)	(70,209)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(50,344)	7,178
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – beginning of period	142,237	74,258
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – end of period	102,426	94,660
Less: Reclassification of cash to assets held for sale	1,871	15,497
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash– end of period	100,555	79,163
Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Assets of consolidated CLOs deconsolidated due to sale and redemption	0	405,263
Liabilities of consolidated CLOs deconsolidated due to sale and redemption	0	387,273
Equity securities acquired through the sale of a subsidiary and asset sales	134,083	0
Real estate acquired through asset acquisition	0	8,178
Intangible assets related to in-place leases acquired through asset acquisition	0	2,049
Debt assumed through acquisitions	0	7,586
Acquired real estate properties through, or in lieu of, foreclosure of the related loan	3,435	2,968
Additional Cash Flow Elements and Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	81,219
Restricted cash	19,336
Noncontrolling interest
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,446	242
Tiptree Financial Partners, L.P. | Noncontrolling interest
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,392	208
Net income (loss)		208
Noncontrolling interests - other | Noncontrolling interest
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 54	34
Net income (loss)		$ 34