VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans held for sale, net	$ 48,894,000	$ 3,154,000
Allowance for loan loss	17,691,000	27,518,000
Loans, allowances	17,700,000	27,500,000
Bank Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans held for sale, net	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
Allowance for loan loss	9,705,000	3,297,000
Whole Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans held for sale, net	34,000,000
Allowance for loan loss	6,920,000	22,531,000
Loans, allowances	6,900,000	22,500,000
Decrease in allowance for loan losses	15,600,000
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	9,700,000	3,300,000
Loans, allowances	8,000,000	24,200,000
Number of loans impaired	1	4
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| California [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Concentration of loan portfolio risk (in hundredths)	47.70%	41.90%
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| Arizona [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Concentration of loan portfolio risk (in hundredths)	7.90%	8.90%
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| Texas [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Concentration of loan portfolio risk (in hundredths)	11.10%	6.00%
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| Florida [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Concentration of loan portfolio risk (in hundredths)	3.30%	8.00%
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| Industry Grouping of Healthcare, Education and Childcare [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Concentration of loan portfolio risk (in hundredths)	13.20%	13.90%
Bank Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans, allowances	$ 9,700,000	$ 3,300,000
Number of loans impaired	5	1
Bank Loans [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	3-month LIBOR	three month LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	1.50%	1.10%
Bank Loans [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	three month LIBOR	three month LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate	8.80%	10.60%

Reflects the sum for the period of the additions and reductions to the loan loss reserve, which when added to the opening balance of the reserve will agree to the ending balance in the reserve.

+ References+ Details

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

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-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

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-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

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-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.

+ Details