VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	$ 1,793,780	$ 1,772,063
Loans receivable-related party	8,324	9,497
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,793,780	1,772,063
Loans receivable-related party	8,324	9,497
CDO notes	1,614,883	1,689,413
Junior subordinated notes	50,814	50,631
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,848,617	1,755,541
Loans receivable-related party	8,324	9,497
CDO notes	1,405,124	1,034,060
Junior subordinated notes	17,308	17,125
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	0	0
Loans receivable-related party	0	0
CDO notes	0	0
Junior subordinated notes	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,186,642	1,142,638
Loans receivable-related party	0	0
CDO notes	1,405,124	1,034,060
Junior subordinated notes	0	0
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	661,975	612,903
Loans receivable-related party	8,324	9,497
CDO notes	0	0
Junior subordinated notes	$ 17,308	$ 17,125