Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 02, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000083402
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding		20,168,092