Earnings per Common Share (Details ) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Earnings per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ (2,083)	$ 9,260
Income from discontinued operations, net of provision for income taxes of $1 and $1, respectively	111	213
Net earnings (loss)	(1,972)	9,473
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	536	1,108
Net earnings (loss) attributable to FirstCity	(2,508)	8,365
Less: Net earnings allocable to participating securities	(48)	82
Net earnings (loss) allocable to common shares	$ (2,460)	$ 8,283
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	10,353,000	10,299,000
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted	10,353,000	10,397,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.78
Income from discontinued operations per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.02
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.02
Additional disclosures
Potentially dilutive securities representing common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)	210,000	654,000
Restricted stock awards
Earnings per common share
Dilutive effect of share-based payment arrangements (in shares)		53,000
Additional disclosures
Potentially dilutive securities representing common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)	99,000
Stock options
Earnings per common share
Dilutive effect of share-based payment arrangements (in shares)		45,000
Additional disclosures
Potentially dilutive securities representing common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)	128,000