VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
REVENUES:
Interest expense	$ 530,000	$ 544,000	$ 1,525,000	$ 1,767,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,384,000	2,938,000	2,528,000	2,882,000
Revenues	43,025,000	47,889,000	119,837,000	123,696,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
General and administrative	2,505,000	2,530,000	6,807,000	7,564,000
Depreciation and amortization	413,000	529,000	1,318,000	1,592,000
Income tax provision (benefit)		(5,000)	(396,000)	20,336,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE - RSO	30,219,000	31,651,000	82,034,000	88,170,000
OPERATING INCOME	12,806,000	16,238,000	37,803,000	35,526,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Other income, net	16,897,000	63,000	17,231,000	5,571,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	3,442,000	(2,267,000)	5,051,000	25,562,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
REVENUES:
Loans	24,374,000	24,130,000	78,370,000	70,757,000
Securities	3,411,000	3,564,000	10,949,000	10,520,000
Interest income − other	649,000	2,218,000	3,150,000	8,204,000
Total interest income	28,434,000	29,912,000	92,469,000	89,481,000
Interest expense	11,762,000	8,208,000	34,061,000	25,460,000
Net interest income	16,672,000	21,704,000	58,408,000	64,021,000
Rental income	4,649,000	2,689,000	15,875,000	6,642,000
Dividend income	223,000	17,000	256,000	51,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(505,000)	(779,000)	(858,000)	(1,469,000)
Fee income	1,245,000	1,777,000	4,182,000	5,528,000
Net realized and unrealized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	570,000	346,000	3,355,000	2,148,000
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on investment securities, trading	(229,000)	9,782,000	(864,000)	13,350,000
Unrealized gain (loss) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	1,161,000	133,000	(4,343,000)	386,000
Revenues	23,786,000	35,669,000	76,011,000	90,657,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
Management fees − related party	5,113,000	5,521,000	11,006,000	13,512,000
Equity compensation − related party	2,120,000	1,404,000	7,866,000	3,412,000
Professional services	1,396,000	845,000	3,745,000	2,562,000
Insurance	214,000	161,000	588,000	478,000
Rental operating expense	3,523,000	1,827,000	11,084,000	4,456,000
General and administrative	1,288,000	844,000	4,428,000	3,377,000
Depreciation and amortization	904,000	1,249,000	3,041,000	3,974,000
Income tax provision (benefit)	722,000	3,979,000	4,221,000	6,978,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE - RSO	15,554,000	13,230,000	43,110,000	39,752,000
OPERATING INCOME	8,232,000	22,439,000	32,901,000	50,905,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	255,000	9,000	811,000	180,000
Provision for loan losses	741,000	1,370,000	541,000	7,801,000
Total operating expenses	16,276,000	17,209,000	47,331,000	46,730,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Gain on the extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	5,464,000
Gain on sale of real estate	16,607,000	0	16,607,000	0
Other income, net	16,607,000	0	16,607,000	5,464,000
Income from continuing operations	24,839,000	22,439,000	49,508,000	56,369,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	24,117,000	18,460,000	45,287,000	49,391,000
Net income allocated to preferred shares	(1,996,000)	(308,000)	(5,107,000)	(333,000)
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHARES	$ 22,121,000	$ 18,152,000	$ 40,180,000	$ 49,058,000