OPERATING SEGMENTS (Summarized Operating Segment) (Details) (USD $)	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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																$ 167,461,000	$ 156,555,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																3,439,000	10,377,000
Total revenues	39,374,000	47,889,000	35,811,000	39,996,000	42,430,000	45,944,000	43,276,000	35,282,000	25,238,000	19,400,000	25,422,000	78,558,000	44,822,000	124,502,000	70,060,000	170,900,000	166,932,000	88,728,000
Segment operating expenses																(96,659,000)	(99,276,000)
Restructuring expenses																(365,000)
General and administrative expenses																(10,460,000)	(11,522,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans																37,000	659,000
Impairment charges																(2,280,000)
Provision for credit losses																(17,246,000)	(10,661,000)	(5,209,000)
Depreciation and amortization																(3,653,000)	(10,739,000)
Gain on sale of management contract																	6,520,000
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																63,291,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt																(2,190,000)
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																63,000	(1,198,000)
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																(74,000)
Interest expense																(4,741,000)	(15,343,000)
Other income (expense), net																19,353,000	3,868,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																(62,168,000)	(33,222,000)
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																53,808,000	(3,982,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																53,808,000	(3,982,000)
Total assets		2,644,263,000			2,636,985,000	2,499,477,000	2,289,368,000	2,143,064,000				2,289,368,000		2,499,477,000		2,644,263,000	2,636,985,000	234,253,000
RAI [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities								1,427,000			3,405,000	1,944,000	3,441,000	9,367,000	4,098,000	3,439,000	10,377,000	4,870,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans								11,000			(582,000)	263,000	(551,000)	357,000	(7,705,000)	37,000	659,000	(8,097,000)
Impairment charges												0	(297,000)	0	(364,000)	(2,280,000)	0	(2,828,000)
Provision for credit losses								(2,405,000)			(776,000)	(5,124,000)	(1,986,000)	(8,600,000)	(3,414,000)	(17,246,000)	(11,460,000)	(5,209,000)
Gain on sale of management contract								6,520,000			0	6,520,000	0	6,520,000	0	0	6,520,000	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																63,291,000	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																(2,190,000)	0	0
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																(74,000)	0	(809,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																38,162,000	30,275,000	31,042,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																2,433,000	8,105,000	869,000
Total revenues																40,595,000	38,380,000	31,911,000
Segment operating expenses																(29,669,000)	(24,465,000)	(20,780,000)
Restructuring expenses																0
General and administrative expenses																(356,000)	(327,000)	(316,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans																0	0	0
Impairment charges																(2,280,000)		0
Provision for credit losses																(342,000)	(2,193,000)	(49,000)
Depreciation and amortization																(1,303,000)	(1,279,000)	(1,304,000)
Gain on sale of management contract																	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																0	0
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																0		0
Interest expense																(856,000)	(1,109,000)	(1,074,000)
Loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net																		0
Other income (expense), net																522,000	544,000	387,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																5,000	52,000	61,000
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																6,316,000	9,603,000	8,836,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																6,316,000	9,603,000	8,836,000
Total assets		169,727,000			162,950,000											169,727,000	162,950,000	155,434,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Financial Fund Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																18,700,000	22,904,000	27,243,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																3,257,000	2,937,000	5,897,000
Total revenues																21,957,000	25,841,000	33,140,000
Segment operating expenses																(17,086,000)	(20,562,000)	(21,028,000)
Restructuring expenses																0
General and administrative expenses																(2,683,000)	(3,176,000)	(3,668,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans																0	0	0
Impairment charges																0		0
Provision for credit losses																0	0	(1,000)
Depreciation and amortization																(126,000)	(164,000)	(196,000)
Gain on sale of management contract																	6,520,000
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																54,542,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt																0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																41,000	(1,384,000)
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																(74,000)		(480,000)
Interest expense																0	0	(3,000)
Loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net																		(451,000)
Other income (expense), net																2,104,000	2,590,000	2,429,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																0	0	8,000
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																58,675,000	9,665,000	9,750,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																58,675,000	9,665,000	9,750,000
Total assets		82,862,000			39,246,000											82,862,000	39,246,000	36,647,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial Finance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																4,135,000	22,460,000	25,573,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																(2,251,000)	(665,000)	(1,896,000)
Total revenues																1,884,000	21,795,000	23,677,000
Segment operating expenses																(2,414,000)	(15,207,000)	(18,164,000)
Restructuring expenses																0
General and administrative expenses																0	0	(428,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans																37,000	659,000	(8,097,000)
Impairment charges																0		(2,828,000)
Provision for credit losses																(16,904,000)	(8,468,000)	(5,159,000)
Depreciation and amortization																(1,556,000)	(8,766,000)	(5,693,000)
Gain on sale of management contract																	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt																0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																0	0
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																0		0
Interest expense																(1,749,000)	(8,563,000)	(6,271,000)
Loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net																		0
Other income (expense), net																0	13,000	1,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																(224,000)	99,000	4,854,000
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																(12,177,000)	(18,438,000)	(18,108,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income																(29,000)	(1,678,000)	(6,115,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																(12,206,000)	(20,116,000)	(24,223,000)
Total assets		15,497,000			260,808,000											15,497,000	260,808,000	81,053,000
Operating Segments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																0	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																0	0	0
Total revenues																0	0	0
Segment operating expenses																0	0	0
Restructuring expenses																(365,000)
General and administrative expenses																(7,421,000)	(8,019,000)	(8,560,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans																0	0	0
Impairment charges																0		0
Provision for credit losses																0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization																(668,000)	(530,000)	(649,000)
Gain on sale of management contract																	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																(2,190,000)
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																22,000	186,000
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																0		(329,000)
Interest expense																(2,136,000)	(5,671,000)	(5,738,000)
Loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net																		0
Other income (expense), net																(523,000)	(905,000)	(226,000)
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																0	0	0
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																(13,281,000)	(14,939,000)	(15,502,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income																29,000	1,678,000	6,115,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																(13,252,000)	(13,261,000)	(9,387,000)
Total assets		(71,343,000)			(40,498,000)											(71,343,000)	(40,498,000)	(38,881,000)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | RAI [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																60,997,000	75,639,000	83,858,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																3,439,000	10,377,000	4,870,000
Total revenues	18,664,000	17,208,000	13,784,000	14,780,000	21,400,000	27,589,000	20,347,000	16,680,000	25,238,000	19,400,000	25,422,000	37,027,000	44,822,000	64,616,000	70,060,000	64,436,000	86,016,000	88,728,000
Segment operating expenses																(49,169,000)	(60,234,000)	(59,972,000)
Restructuring expenses																(365,000)	0	0
General and administrative expenses						(2,614,000)	(2,897,000)	(3,116,000)	(2,946,000)	(2,768,000)	(3,432,000)	(6,013,000)	(6,200,000)	(8,627,000)	(9,146,000)	(10,460,000)	(11,522,000)	(12,972,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans						94,000	252,000	11,000	(7,154,000)	31,000	(582,000)	263,000	(551,000)	357,000	(7,705,000)	37,000	659,000	(8,097,000)
Impairment charges																(2,280,000)	0	(2,828,000)
Provision for credit losses						(3,476,000)	(2,719,000)	(1,606,000)	(1,428,000)	(1,210,000)	(776,000)	(4,325,000)	(1,986,000)	(7,801,000)	(3,414,000)	(17,246,000)	(10,661,000)	(5,209,000)
Depreciation and amortization						(3,159,000)	(2,921,000)	(1,125,000)	(2,005,000)	(2,382,000)	(2,206,000)	(4,046,000)	(4,588,000)	(7,205,000)	(6,593,000)	(3,653,000)	(10,739,000)	(7,842,000)
Gain on sale of management contract						0	0	6,520,000	0	0	0	6,520,000	0	6,520,000	0	0	6,520,000	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																63,291,000	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																(2,190,000)	0	0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net						82,000	97,000	(1,461,000)	(27,000)	(424,000)	0	(1,364,000)	(424,000)	(1,282,000)	(451,000)	63,000	(1,198,000)	(451,000)
Impairment loss recognized in earnings						0	0		(67,000)	(297,000)		0	(297,000)	0	(364,000)	(74,000)	0	(809,000)
Interest expense						(4,276,000)	(4,167,000)	(2,369,000)	(3,504,000)	(3,871,000)	(3,817,000)	(6,536,000)	(7,688,000)	(10,812,000)	(11,192,000)	(4,741,000)	(15,343,000)	(13,086,000)
Loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net																		(451,000)
Other income (expense), net																2,103,000	2,242,000	2,591,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																(219,000)	151,000	4,923,000
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																39,533,000	(14,109,000)	(15,024,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																39,533,000	(14,109,000)	(15,024,000)
Total assets		196,743,000			422,506,000											196,743,000	422,506,000	234,253,000
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | RSO [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																123,698,000	95,986,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																0	0
Total revenues	25,211,000	35,669,000	26,262,000	28,726,000	25,211,000	21,987,000	26,150,000	22,638,000	0	0	0	48,788,000	0	70,775,000	0	123,698,000	95,986,000	0
Segment operating expenses																(63,850,000)	(50,103,000)
Restructuring expenses																0
General and administrative expenses																0	0
Gain on sale of leases and loans																0	0
Impairment charges																0
Provision for credit losses																0	0
Depreciation and amortization																0	0
Gain on sale of management contract																	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																0	0
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																0
Interest expense																0	0
Other income (expense), net																19,197,000	3,869,000
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																(1,244,000)	0
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																77,801,000	49,752,000
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																77,801,000	49,752,000
Total assets		2,478,251,000			2,284,724,000											2,478,251,000	2,284,724,000	0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers																(17,234,000)	(15,070,000)
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities																0	0
Total revenues	(4,501,000)	(4,988,000)	(4,235,000)	(3,510,000)	(4,181,000)	(3,632,000)	(3,221,000)	(4,036,000)	0	0	0	(7,257,000)	0	(10,889,000)	0	(17,234,000)	(15,070,000)	0
Segment operating expenses																16,360,000	11,061,000
Restructuring expenses																0
General and administrative expenses																0	0
Gain on sale of leases and loans																0	0
Impairment charges																0
Provision for credit losses																0	0
Depreciation and amortization																0	0
Gain on sale of management contract																	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries																0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																0	0
Impairment loss recognized in earnings																0
Interest expense																0	0
Other income (expense), net																(1,947,000)	(2,243,000)
Pretax loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)																(60,705,000)	(33,373,000)
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest before intercompany interest expense and taxes																(63,526,000)	(39,625,000)
Intercompany interest (expense) income																0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests before taxes																(63,526,000)	(39,625,000)
Total assets		$ (30,731,000)			$ (70,245,000)											$ (30,731,000)	$ (70,245,000)	$ 0