OPERATING SEGMENTS (Summarized Operating Segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 14,188,000		$ 15,109,000		$ 28,692,000		$ 33,216,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	1,261,000		(329,000)		2,462,000		228,000
Total revenues	15,449,000		14,780,000		31,154,000		33,444,000
Segment operating expenses	(12,013,000)		(12,016,000)		(20,979,000)		(26,975,000)
Restructuring expenses	0		(365,000)		0		(365,000)
General and administrative expenses	(2,157,000)		(2,467,000)		(4,413,000)		(5,363,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans	0		0		0		37,000
Provision for credit losses	(338,000)		(2,962,000)		(5,490,000)		(5,212,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(416,000)		(535,000)		(908,000)		(2,596,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary	0		0		0		8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0		0		(2,190,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	0		5,000		0		63,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(214,000)		(74,000)		(214,000)		(74,000)
Interest expense	(494,000)		(645,000)		(1,016,000)		(3,619,000)
Other income (expense), net	740,000		625,000		1,328,000		1,184,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests	43,000	[1]	39,000		(822,000)	[1]	(210,000)
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes							(3,127,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income							0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	600,000		(3,615,000)		(1,360,000)		(3,127,000)
Segment assets	189,527,000		168,492,000		189,527,000		168,492,000		196,743,000
Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	11,320,000		9,681,000		24,453,000		17,741,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	20,000		35,000		41,000		641,000
Total revenues	11,340,000		9,716,000		24,494,000		18,382,000
Segment operating expenses	(9,440,000)		(7,407,000)		(17,438,000)		(14,599,000)
Restructuring expenses			0				0
General and administrative expenses	(1,404,000)		(94,000)		(1,487,000)		(172,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans							0
Provision for credit losses	2,522,000		(103,000)		2,332,000		(207,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(230,000)		(324,000)		(538,000)		(647,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary							0
Loss on extinguishment of debt							0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			0				0
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	(197,000)		(213,000)		(409,000)		(428,000)
Other income (expense), net	297,000		129,000		460,000		246,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests	43,000	[1]	39,000	[1]	(822,000)	[1]	14,000	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes							2,589,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income							0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	2,931,000		1,743,000		6,592,000		2,589,000
Segment assets	171,843,000		164,897,000		171,843,000		164,897,000
Financial Fund Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	2,868,000		5,428,000		4,239,000		11,341,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	1,419,000		876,000		2,723,000		1,542,000
Total revenues	4,287,000		6,304,000		6,962,000		12,883,000
Segment operating expenses	(2,528,000)		(4,379,000)		(3,545,000)		(10,183,000)
Restructuring expenses			0				0
General and administrative expenses	9,000		(604,000)		(569,000)		(1,473,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans							0
Provision for credit losses	0		0		(457,000)		0
Depreciation and amortization	(20,000)		(37,000)		(42,000)		(74,000)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary							0
Loss on extinguishment of debt							0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			0				41,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(214,000)		(74,000)		(214,000)		(74,000)
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Other income (expense), net	589,000		538,000		1,112,000		1,115,000
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes							2,235,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income							0
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	2,123,000		1,748,000		3,247,000		2,235,000
Segment assets	77,621,000		30,685,000		77,621,000		30,685,000
Commercial Finance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	0		0		0		4,134,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(178,000)		(1,240,000)		(302,000)		(1,955,000)
Total revenues	(178,000)		(1,240,000)		(302,000)		2,179,000
Segment operating expenses	(45,000)		(230,000)		4,000		(2,193,000)
Restructuring expenses			0				0
General and administrative expenses	0		0		0		0
Gain on sale of leases and loans							37,000
Provision for credit losses	(2,860,000)		(2,859,000)		(7,365,000)		(5,005,000)
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		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				0
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	(1,000)		(36,000)		(1,000)		(1,727,000)
Other income (expense), net	6,000		0		6,000		0
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	(224,000)	[1]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes							260,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income							(29,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	(3,078,000)		(4,365,000)		(7,658,000)		231,000
Segment assets	8,507,000		26,407,000		8,507,000		26,407,000
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total revenues	0	[2]	0		0	[2]	0
Segment operating expenses	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Restructuring expenses			(365,000)	[2]			(365,000)
General and administrative expenses	(762,000)	[2]	(1,769,000)	[2]	(2,357,000)	[2]	(3,718,000)	[2]
Gain on sale of leases and loans							0	[2]
Provision for credit losses	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	(166,000)	[2]	(174,000)	[2]	(328,000)	[2]	(319,000)	[2]
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary							0	[2]
Loss on extinguishment of debt							(2,190,000)	[2]
Gain on sale of investment securities, net			5,000	[2]			22,000	[2]
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Interest expense	(296,000)	[2]	(396,000)	[2]	(606,000)	[2]	(1,464,000)	[2]
Other income (expense), net	(152,000)	[2]	(42,000)	[2]	(250,000)	[2]	(177,000)	[2]
Pretax income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Income (loss) excluding noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes							(8,211,000)	[2]
Intercompany interest (expense) income							29,000	[2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding noncontrolling interest before taxes	(1,376,000)	[2]	(2,741,000)	[2]	(3,541,000)	[2]	(8,182,000)	[2]
Segment assets	$ (68,444,000)	[2]	$ (53,497,000)	[2]	$ (68,444,000)	[2]	$ (53,497,000)	[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.