CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	$ 46,917,000				$ 46,917,000				$ 54,815,000
Payables due to managed entities and related parties, net:
Payables to managed entities and related parties	1,426,000				1,426,000				1,232,000
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Amount waived of the fund management fees from commercial finance investment entities	1,100,000		1,900,000		3,800,000		6,400,000
Commercial finance investment entities [Member]
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	19,853,000	[1]			19,853,000	[1]			29,725,000	[1]
Payables due to managed entities and related parties, net:
Reserves for credit losses	18,800,000				18,800,000
Number of investment entities that are not expected to be collectible	3				3
Real estate investment entities [Member]
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	18,398,000	[2]			18,398,000	[2]			19,796,000	[2]
Payables due to managed entities and related parties, net:
Payables to managed entities and related parties	1,396,000				1,396,000				1,010,000
Reserves for credit losses	2,400,000				2,400,000
Number of real estate investment entities receivables that are not expected to be collectible	2				2
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities	4,405,000	[3]	3,753,000	[3]	12,862,000	[3]	9,909,000	[3]
Discounts recorded	57,000		512,000		185,000		702,000
Maximum amount of loan to affiliated real estate partnership	3,000,000				3,000,000				3,000,000
Loan to affiliated real estate partnership	2,400,000				2,400,000				2,200,000
Interest income	17,000				49,000
Financial fund management investment entities [Member]
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	3,550,000				3,550,000				2,652,000
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities	765,000		1,038,000		2,468,000		3,523,000
RSO [Member]
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	4,907,000				4,907,000				2,539,000
Payables due to managed entities and related parties, net:
Payables to managed entities and related parties	30,000				30,000				222,000
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Management, incentive and servicing fees	4,181,000		2,582,000		11,521,000		8,880,000
Dividends received	510,000		612,000		1,646,000		1,835,000
Reimbursement of related party costs	1,134,000		687,000		2,731,000		1,708,000
LEAF [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Reimbursement of related party costs	84,000		0		226,000		0
Payment for rent and related costs	(193,000)		0		(497,000)		0
Payment for sub-servicing the commercial finance investment partnerships	(585,000)		0		(1,696,000)		0
Leases sold to commercial finance investment partnerships	1,200,000		0		1,200,000		821,000
Rate at which fees is charged (in hundredths)					1.00%
Evaluation fee equal to number of halves of acquisition or similar fee collected					1
Other [Member]
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net:
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	209,000				209,000				103,000
Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT Inc [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Dividends received	14,000		0		14,000		0
Reimbursement of related party costs	150,000		473,000		785,000		1,441,000
Atlas Energy, L.P. [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Reimbursement of related party costs	160,000		220,000		478,000		830,000
1845 Walnut Associates Ltd. [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Payment for rent and operating expenses	(155,000)		(152,000)		(469,000)		(522,000)
Ledgewood P.C. [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Payment for legal services	(239,000)		(357,000)		(508,000)		(491,000)
Graphic Images, LLC [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Payment for printing services	(34,000)		(61,000)		(136,000)		(96,000)
9 Henmar LLC [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Payment of broker/consulting fees	(20,000)		(20,000)		(42,000)		(46,000)
The Bancorp, Inc. [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Reimbursement of related party costs	32,000		8,000		106,000		8,000
CVC Credit Partners, L.P. [Member]
Fees from unconsolidated investment entities: [Abstract]
Reimbursement of related party costs					1,400,000
Limited partner interest (in hundredths)	33.00%				33.00%
Ownership percentage, minimum required to serve as Chairman (in hundredths)	10.00%				10.00%
Minimum ownership interest for the Company to consent to most transactions (in hundredths)	25.00%				25.00%
Monthly reimbursement of costs and expenses					$ 85,000

[1] Reflects $18.8 million of reserves for credit losses related to management fees owed from three commercial finance investment entities that, based on a change in estimated cash distributions, are not expected to be collectible.

[2] Reflects $2.4 million of reserves for credit losses related to management fees owed from two real estate investment entities that, based on projected cash flows, are not expected to be collectible.

[3] Reflects discounts recorded by the Company of $57,000 and $185,000 recorded in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $512,000 and $702,000 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, in connection with management fees from its real estate investment entities that it expects to receive in future periods.