Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 24,384	$ 11,747	$ 17,365
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs and fair value of debt)	11,824	9,412	6,988
Amortization of lease intangibles	6,746	4,472	3,033
Straight-line rental income	(5,415)	(1,907)	403
Loan discount accretion	(8,333)	(13,401)	(8,782)
Discount accretion received in cash	15,720	13,290
Earnings of preferred equity investments		(338)	(338)
Distributions of income from preferred equity investments	97	571	340
Equity in income (loss) of equity investments (inclusive of impairments of $0, $21,058 and $0)/(Income) loss of equity investments	(14,678)	12,712	2,007
Distributions of income from equity investments	21,593	12,696	5,270
Restricted cash held in escrows	(3,477)	1,431	1,167
Gain on sale of securities carried at fair value	(41)	(123)	(558)
Unrealized gain on securities carried at fair value	(6,916)	(2,788)	(5,060)
Gain on sale of real estate investments	(945)	(392)
Gain on sale of loan securities carried at fair value	(614)		(469)
Unrealized gain on loan securities carried at fair value	(447)	(2,738)	(5,011)
Impairment loss on investments in real estate	3,260	7,600	2,720
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	121	(9,258)
Gain on consolidation of property		(818)
Tenant leasing costs	(4,250)	(1,314)	(2,996)
Bad debt (recovery) expense	(265)	377	(643)
Net change in interest receivable	(516)	37	(361)
Net change in accounts receivable and other assets	726	(785)	2,172
Net change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7,861	(796)	2,365
Net cash provided by operating activities	46,435	39,687	19,612
Cash flows from investing activities
Issuance and acquisition of loans receivable	(163,800)	(67,619)	(122,301)
Investments in real estate	(37,678)	(9,751)	(23,484)
Investment in equity investments	(78,679)	(151,219)	(25,632)
Investment in preferred equity investment	(10,750)	(7,564)
Return of capital distribution from equity investments	84,026	31,890	9,625
Return of capital distribution from securities carried at fair value			181
Purchase of securities carried at fair value	(5,655)	(19,321)	(13,222)
Proceeds from sale of investments in real estate	7,024	3,629	1,750
Proceeds from sale of equity investments	4,297	6,000
Proceeds from sale of securities carried at fair value	21,774	26,408	31,249
Proceeds from sale of available for sale securities			205
Proceeds from payoff of loan securities	6,359	8,748	2,272
Proceeds from sale of loans receivable			12,876
Restricted cash held in escrows	(5,600)	3,160	(1,508)
Collection of loans receivable	68,824	70,289	15,064
Cash from foreclosure on properties	411		275
Net cash used in investing activities	(109,447)	(105,350)	(112,650)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from mortgage loans payable	36,897	32,494
Proceeds from notes payable	880
Payment of notes payable	(80)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit		67,324	25,450
Payment of revolving line of credit	(40,000)	(52,774)
Principal payments of mortgage loans payable	(25,584)	(72,574)	(10,199)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes payable	86,250
Proceeds from secured financing	25,000	29,150
Payment of secured financing	(1,230)
Restricted cash held in escrows	(42)	89	1,520
Deferred financing costs	(4,198)	(788)	(252)
Purchase of non-controlling interests	(2,050)
Contribution from non-controlling interest	4,576	1,349	1,431
Distribution to non-controlling interest	(7,242)	(356)	(354)
Issuance of Common Shares under Dividend Reinvestment Plan	517	2,760	2,401
Issuance of Common Shares through offering		61,386	66,774
Buyback of Common Shares	(742)
Issuance of Series D Preferred Shares	77,563	38,378
Dividend paid on Common Shares	(21,488)	(19,496)	(14,573)
Dividend paid on Series C Preferred Shares		(624)	(396)
Dividend paid on Series D Preferred Shares	(9,285)	(339)
Redemption of Series B-1 Preferred Shares		(21,400)
Redemption of Series C Preferred Shares		(3,221)
Net cash provided by financing activities	119,742	61,358	71,802
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	56,730	(4,305)	(21,236)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	40,952	45,257	66,493
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	97,682	40,952	45,257
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid	16,467	16,246	14,240
Taxes paid	332	396	133
Supplemental Disclosure on Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
Dividends accrued on Common Shares	5,366	5,396	4,392
Dividends accrued on Series C Preferred Shares			39
Capital expenditures accrued	4,011	4,285	1,046
Transfer from preferred equity investments	3,923	7,843
Transfer from loans receivable	2,938
Transfer to equity investments	(6,861)	(5,035)
Transfer from equity investments	17,600	12,544
Transfer to loans receivable	11,750	6,534
Transfer to additional paid-in capital	(5,487)
Transfer to non-controlling interests	(363)
Transfer to preferred equity investments		(2,022)
Transfer to investments in lease intangibles		(11,904)	(3,204)
Transfer to investments in real estate		(52,778)	(41,425)
Transfer to below market lease intangibles		1,005	125
Assumption of mortgage loan on investment in real estate	13,600	49,091	23,875
Transfer from loan securities		$ 662