NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended										6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests						$ 513	$ 513	$ 625	$ 1,275	$ 615		$ 1,138	$ 998	$ 1,651	$ 2,273	$ 223	$ 2,111
RAI [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period	208				(870)	(335)	(3,474)									(1,269)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	193	36	(45)	39	460	513	513	625			383	1,138				223	2,111	3,224
Noncontrolling interest, end of period		208			(1,269)	(870)	(335)	(3,474)				(335)		(870)		208	(1,269)
RSO [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period	581,450				401,566	401,576	396,057									398,377
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(367)	(17,917)	(15,945)	(14,030)	(400)	(14,436)	(8,868)	(12,579)	0	0	0	(21,447)	0	(35,883)	0	(62,520)	(36,283)	0
Noncontrolling interest, end of period		581,450			398,377	401,566	401,576	396,057				401,576		401,566		581,450	398,377
Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | RAI [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period								(2,873)				(2,873)		(2,873)		(1,269)	(2,873)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																(223)	(2,111)
Other comprehensive income																49	(24)
Proceeds from issuance of stock, net																0	0
Amortization of stock based compensation																0	40
Distributions to noncontrolling interests																(80)	0
Deconsolidation of LEAF																1,648
Other																83	1
Exchange of LEAF Financial common stock held by management for LEAF common stock																	3,467
LEAF common stock issuance costs																	(221)
Warrants issued to Guggenheim																	452
Noncontrolling interest, end of period		208			(1,269)											208	(1,269)
Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | RSO [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period								316,588				316,588		316,588		398,377	316,588
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																62,520	36,283
Other comprehensive income																19,249	(12,409)
Proceeds from issuance of stock, net																170,928	129,911
Amortization of stock based compensation																4,636	2,526
Distributions to noncontrolling interests																(74,243)	(72,837)
Related party debt forgiveness																	(1,552)
Deconsolidation of LEAF																0
Other																(17)	(133)
Exchange of LEAF Financial common stock held by management for LEAF common stock																	0
LEAF common stock issuance costs																	0
Warrants issued to Guggenheim																	0
Noncontrolling interest, end of period		$ 581,450			$ 398,377											$ 581,450	$ 398,377