FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Past Due Financing Receivables) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	$ 867		$ 796
Greater than 90 Days	754		2,695
Greater than 181 Days	57,279		54,092
Total Past Due	58,900		57,583
Current	12,457		11,093
Balance, end of year	71,357		68,676
Receivables from Managed Entities - Commercial Finance [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	40,112	[1]	38,834	[2]
Total Past Due	40,112	[1]	38,834	[2]
Current	118	[1]	148
Balance, end of year	40,230	[1]	38,982	[2]
Specific Allowance			25,078
Real Estate Investment Entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	816	[1]	784	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	744	[1]	2,694	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	17,062	[1]	15,180	[2]
Total Past Due	18,622	[1]	18,658	[2]
Current	2,002	[1]	2,091
Balance, end of year	20,624	[1]	20,749	[2]
Specific Allowance			2,502
Financial Fund Management Entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	6	[1]	6	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	47	[1]	46	[2]
Total Past Due	53	[1]	52	[2]
Current	2,140	[1]	2,141
Balance, end of year	2,193	[1]	2,193	[2]
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Total Past Due	0	[1]	0	[2]
Current	8,020	[1]	6,555
Balance, end of year	8,020	[1]	6,555	[2]
Other [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	41	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	0	[1]	0	[2]
Total Past Due	41	[1]	0	[2]
Current	137	[1]	152
Balance, end of year	178	[1]	152	[2]
Receivables from Managed Entities and Related Parties [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	863	[1]	790	[2]
Greater than 90 Days	744	[1]	2,694	[2]
Greater than 181 Days	57,221	[1]	54,060	[2]
Total Past Due	58,828	[1]	57,544	[2]
Current	12,417	[1]	11,087
Balance, end of year	71,245	[1]	68,631	[2]
Rent Receivables - Real Estate [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	4		6
Greater than 90 Days	10		1
Greater than 181 Days	58		32
Total Past Due	72		39
Current	40		6
Balance, end of year	112		45
Financing receivables with a specific valuation allowance [Member] | Receivables from Managed Entities - Commercial Finance [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
Specific Allowance	29,586		25,078
Financing receivables with a specific valuation allowance [Member] | Real Estate Investment Entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
Specific Allowance	2,517		2,502
Financing receivables with a specific valuation allowance [Member] | Rent Receivables - Real Estate [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
Specific Allowance	68		33
Financing receivables with a specific valuation allowance [Member] | Receivables from managed entities financial fund management [Member] [Domain]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
Specific Allowance	$ 457

[1] Receivables are presented gross of an allowance for credit losses of $29.6 million, $2.5 million and $457,000 related to the Company’s commercial finance, real estate and financial fund management investment entities, respectively. The remaining receivables from managed entities and related parties have no related allowance for credit losses.

[2] Receivables are presented gross of an allowance for credit losses of $25.1 million and $2.5 million related to the Company’s commercial finance and real estate investment entities, respectively. The remaining receivables from managed entities and related parties have no related allowance for credit losses.