OPERATING SEGMENTS (Summarized Operating Segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 14,504,000		$ 18,107,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	1,201,000		557,000
Total revenues	15,705,000		18,664,000
Segment operating expenses	(8,966,000)		(14,959,000)
General and administrative expenses	(2,256,000)		(2,896,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans	0		37,000
Provision for credit losses	(5,152,000)		(2,250,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(492,000)		(2,061,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary	0		8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		(2,190,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	0		58,000
Interest expense	(522,000)		(2,974,000)
Other income (expense), net	588,000		559,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)	(865,000)	[1]	(249,000)	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes	(1,960,000)		488,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income	0		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	(1,960,000)		488,000
Segment assets	190,330,000		178,335,000		196,743,000
Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	13,133,000		8,060,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	21,000		606,000
Total revenues	13,154,000		8,666,000
Segment operating expenses	(7,998,000)		(7,192,000)
General and administrative expenses	(83,000)		(78,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans			0
Provision for credit losses	(190,000)		(104,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(308,000)		(323,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary			0
Loss on extinguishment of debt			0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			0
Interest expense	(212,000)		(215,000)
Other income (expense), net	163,000		117,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)	(865,000)	[1]	(25,000)	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes	3,661,000		846,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income	0		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	3,661,000		846,000
Segment assets	170,900,000		162,757,000
Financial Fund Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	1,371,000		5,913,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	1,304,000		666,000
Total revenues	2,675,000		6,579,000
Segment operating expenses	(1,017,000)		(5,804,000)
General and administrative expenses	(578,000)		(869,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans			0
Provision for credit losses	(457,000)		0
Depreciation and amortization	(22,000)		(37,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary			0
Loss on extinguishment of debt			0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			41,000
Interest expense	0		0
Other income (expense), net	523,000		577,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)	0	[1]	0	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes	1,124,000		487,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income	0		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	1,124,000		487,000
Segment assets	77,225,000		36,927,000
Commercial Finance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	0		4,134,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(124,000)		(715,000)
Total revenues	(124,000)		3,419,000
Segment operating expenses	49,000		(1,963,000)
General and administrative expenses	0		0
Gain on sale of leases and loans			37,000
Provision for credit losses	(4,505,000)		(2,146,000)
Depreciation and amortization	0		(1,556,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary			8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			0
Interest expense	0		(1,691,000)
Other income (expense), net	0		0
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)	0	[1]	(224,000)	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes	(4,580,000)		4,625,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income	0		(29,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	(4,580,000)		4,596,000
Segment assets	11,876,000		30,516,000
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total revenues	0	[2]	0	[2]
Segment operating expenses	0	[2]	0	[2]
General and administrative expenses	(1,595,000)	[2]	(1,949,000)	[2]
Gain on sale of leases and loans			0	[2]
Provision for credit losses	0	[2]	0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	(162,000)	[2]	(145,000)	[2]
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary			0	[2]
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(2,190,000)	[2]
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			17,000	[2]
Interest expense	(310,000)	[2]	(1,068,000)	[2]
Other income (expense), net	(98,000)	[2]	(135,000)	[2]
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes	(2,165,000)	[2]	(5,470,000)	[2]
Intercompany interest (expense) income	0	[2]	29,000	[2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	(2,165,000)	[2]	(5,441,000)	[2]
Segment assets	$ (69,671,000)	[2]	$ (51,865,000)	[2]

[1] In viewing its segment operations, management excludes the pretax (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. However, these interests are included from (loss) income from operations as computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be deducted to compute (loss) income from operations as reflected in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

[2] Includes general corporate expenses and assets not allocable to any particular segment.