VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Commercial Real Estate Loans Held for Investment) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	$ 17,691,000	$ 27,518,000
Loans held for sale, net	48,894,000	3,154,000
Number of loans held for sale	2
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity	43	39
Amortized Cost	667,051,000	628,982,000
Allowance for loan loss	9,700,000	3,300,000
Whole Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	6,920,000	22,531,000
Loans held for sale, net	34,000,000
Whole Loans [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	567,938,000
Fixed contractual interest in floating rate whole loan	15.00%	15.00%
Whole Loans, Floating Rate [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans held for investment, unfunded loan commitments	8,900,000	5,200,000
Whole Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity	37	32
Amortized Cost	567,938,000	537,708,000
The amortized cost of loans held for investments, fixed rate whole loans included in floating rate whole loans.	2,000,000	2,000,000
Whole Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%	2.50%
Maturity Dates	June 2013	April 2012
Whole Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	5.50%	5.75%
Maturity Dates	February 2019	February 2019
Preferred equity tranche [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,000,000	302,000
Preferred equity tranche [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Fixed preferred equity interest in floating rate whole loan	10.00%	10.00%
Whole Loans, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity		1
Amortized Cost		6,965,000
Stated interest rate		10.00%
Whole Loans, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Maturity Dates		June 2012
B Notes [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	206,000	253,000
B Notes [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	16,327,000
B Notes, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity	1	1
Amortized Cost	16,327,000	16,435,000
Stated interest rate	8.68%	8.68%
B Notes, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	April 2016	April 2016
Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	860,000	1,437,000
Mezzanine Loans [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	82,786,000
Mezzanine Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity	2	3
Amortized Cost	15,845,000	53,908,000
Mezzanine Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%	2.50%
Maturity Dates	August 2013	May 2012
Mezzanine Loans, Floating Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	7.45%	7.45%
Maturity Dates	December 2013	December 2012
Mezzanine Loans, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Quantity	3	2
Amortized Cost	66,941,000	13,966,000
Number of loan tranches	2
Mezzanine Loans, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.50%	8.99%
Maturity Dates	September 2014	January 2016
Mezzanine Loans, Fixed Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	20.00%	11.00%
Maturity Dates	September 2019	September 2016
Mezzanine Loans, Fixed Rate, Tranche One [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.50%
Mezzanine Loans, Fixed Rate, Tranche Two [Member] \| Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	18.50%
Stated interest rate	0.50%
Not included in total [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	$ 8,000,000	$ 24,200,000

The amortized cost of loans held for investments, fixed rate whole loans included in floating rate whole loans.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fixed contractual interest in floating rate whole loan

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fixed preferred equity interest in floating rate whole loan

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Loans held for investment, amortized cost

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Loans Held For Investment, Unfunded Loan Commitments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Loans Receivable, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number Of Loans Held For Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number Of Loan Tranches

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of loans outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified fixed maturity real estate loans as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of that loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 60

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6873192&loc=d3e21338-158488

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Describes matters pertaining to loans not reflected elsewhere.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 9

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- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the loans receivable, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate carrying amount of loans receivable that will be sold to other entities. Includes mortgage and all other loans (collectively, loans) not classified as held for investment. Such loans are stated at the lower of cost or market, or elected fair value. Mortgage loans exclude mortgage-backed securities which are considered a debt security (other loan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph a

-Article 9

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 49

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382521&loc=d3e3084-111518

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section 30

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490209&loc=d3e48214-111002

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 65

-Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 28, 29

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph h

-Chapter V

-Subsection I

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 65

-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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