VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Weighted Average Life of Commercial Real Estate Loans, at Amortized Cost) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
2013	$ 77,127
2014	20,694
2015 and thereafter	569,230
Total	667,051	628,982
B Notes [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
2013	0
2014	0
2015 and thereafter	16,327
Total	16,327
Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
2013	5,328
2014	20,694
2015 and thereafter	56,764
Total	82,786
Whole Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
2013	71,799
2014	0
2015 and thereafter	496,139
Total	$ 567,938