CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 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
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 10,452,000	$ 588,000	$ 9,854,000	$ (1,259,000)	$ 23,260,000	$ (7,849,000)	$ 87,804,000	$ 19,609,000	$ (16,675,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Impairment charges							2,280,000
Provision for credit losses							17,246,000	10,661,000	5,209,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities							(3,439,000)	(10,377,000)
(Gain) loss on sale of leases and loans							(37,000)	(659,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings							74,000
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries							(63,291,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt							2,190,000
Gain on sale of management contract								(6,520,000)
Loss (income) from discontinued operations			2,153,000	2,000	2,176,000	3,000	58,000	2,202,000	(622,000)
Net cash used in operating activities	(20,263,000)	(1,153,000)	(465,000)	26,892,000	18,067,000	22,986,000	(5,447,000)	15,186,000	26,439,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(58,803,000)	516,000	(100,904,000)	1,969,000	(137,653,000)	7,856,000	105,965,000	(473,884,000)	(2,520,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	82,353,000	(17,151,000)	106,569,000	(47,734,000)	137,077,000	(47,872,000)	(104,295,000)	473,178,000	(38,873,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities							(1,285,000)	(1,268,000)	0
Net cash used in discontinued operations			52,000	0	(181,000)	(3,000)	(1,285,000)	(1,268,000)	0
(Decrease) increase in cash	3,287,000	(17,788,000)	5,252,000	(18,873,000)	17,310,000	(17,033,000)	(5,062,000)	13,212,000	(14,954,000)
Cash, beginning of year	11,243,000	26,197,000	11,243,000	26,197,000	11,243,000	26,197,000	24,455,000	11,243,000	26,197,000
Cash, end of year	14,530,000	8,409,000	16,495,000	7,324,000	28,553,000	9,164,000	19,393,000	24,455,000	11,243,000
RAI [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,999,000	3,173,000	6,331,000	6,721,000	10,955,000	10,192,000	4,875,000	15,868,000	12,088,000
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
Unrealized gain on trading securities							(1,108,000)	0	0
Equity in earnings 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)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	663,000	1,261,000	2,751,000	2,701,000	5,018,000	3,823,000	3,463,000	4,522,000	5,104,000
(Gain) loss 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
Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings							74,000	0	809,000
(Gain) loss on sale of loans and investment securities, net	1,461,000	0	1,364,000	424,000	1,282,000	451,000	(972,000)	1,198,000	451,000
Gain on sale of assets	0	(244,000)	0	(287,000)	0	(2,040,000)	(84,000)	(196,000)	(2,870,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries							(63,291,000)	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt							2,190,000	0	0
Gain on sale of management contract	(6,520,000)	0	(6,520,000)	0	(6,520,000)	0	0	(6,520,000)	0
Deferred income tax provision	422,000	34,000	(3,065,000)	33,000	(1,667,000)	29,000	13,393,000	(5,657,000)	(4,564,000)
Equity-based compensation issued	781,000	1,120,000	1,401,000	2,014,000	1,963,000	2,874,000	1,286,000	2,525,000	3,573,000
Equity-based compensation received	0	(375,000)	0	(375,000)	0	(1,118,000)	0	0	(1,441,000)
Trading securities purchases and sales, net							(1,048,000)	0	0
Decrease in commercial finance investments	0	8,386,000	0	37,182,000	0	30,959,000	0	0	17,603,000
Loss (income) from discontinued operations			2,153,000	2,000	2,176,000	3,000	58,000	2,202,000	(622,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(611,000)	(13,049,000)	(1,047,000)	(19,657,000)	(2,983,000)	(21,723,000)	(2,911,000)	(2,624,000)	1,719,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(38,000)	(118,000)	(411,000)	(236,000)	(739,000)	(320,000)	(222,000)	(1,165,000)	(782,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate			0	2,885,000	16,291,000	8,355,000	1,726,000	16,487,000	9,205,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	(283,000)	0	(419,000)	(1,512,000)	(854,000)	(1,908,000)	(1,608,000)	(2,371,000)	(1,821,000)
Purchase of commercial finance assets	(10,690,000)	0	(25,790,000)	0	(65,762,000)	0	(18,483,000)	(105,777,000)	(11,771,000)
Principal payments received on leases and loans			0	333,000	18,732,000	0	9,043,000	29,056,000	0
Purchase of loans and investments	0	(1,640,000)	0	(1,011,000)	0	(1,011,000)	(1,874,000)	0	(1,445,000)
Cash divested on deconsolidation of LEAF							(2,284,000)	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of Apidos and cash divested on deconsolidation							17,860,000	0	0
Proceeds from sale of management contract	9,095,000	0	9,095,000	0	9,095,000	0	0	9,095,000	0
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	2,946,000	2,274,000	3,341,000	1,510,000	3,534,000	2,740,000	262,000	3,779,000	4,094,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	1,000,000	45,701,000	31,000,000	71,001,000	66,217,000	81,802,000	128,845,000	106,043,000	103,401,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(1,908,000)	(62,326,000)	(13,756,000)	(116,525,000)	(45,776,000)	(127,889,000)	(129,416,000)	(55,778,000)	(128,767,000)
Dividends paid	(551,000)	(540,000)	(1,105,000)	(1,088,000)	(1,675,000)	(1,087,000)	(2,310,000)	(2,246,000)	(1,636,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			1,853,000	58,000	1,914,000	58,000	2,131,000	1,914,000	58,000
Repurchase of common stock							(2,324,000)	(241,000)	0
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	6,617,000	510,000	(3,518,000)	194,000	4,947,000	1,068,000	(664,000)	4,530,000	(9,277,000)
Other	73,000	(496,000)	(1,075,000)	(1,374,000)	(1,992,000)	(1,824,000)	(2,275,000)	(2,299,000)	(2,652,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities			52,000	0	(181,000)	(3,000)	(1,285,000)	(1,268,000)
Cash, beginning of year							24,455,000
Cash, end of year	14,530,000		16,495,000		28,553,000		19,393,000	24,455,000
RSO [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Change in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE - RSO	(29,877,000)	0	(16,604,000)	0	(14,293,000)	0	(65,226,000)	(16,165,000)	0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of loans and investments	(213,887,000)	0	(436,374,000)	0	(592,226,000)	0	(769,762,000)	(1,072,132,000)	0
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	145,670,000	0	295,166,000	0	370,238,000	0	822,476,000	663,663,000	0
Increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE - RSO	(4,053,000)	0	(20,023,000)	0	22,334,000	0	50,756,000	31,014,000	0
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	12,437,000	0	74,511,000	0	81,704,000	0	(1,925,000)	(45,533,000)	0
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments) borrowings of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	15,109,000	0	23,687,000	0	50,411,000	0	(207,149,000)	358,029,000	0
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO	(13,944,000)	0	(30,922,000)	0	(48,877,000)	0	(71,876,000)	(67,414,000)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	76,619,000	0	100,946,000	0	112,449,000	0	171,056,000	129,911,000	0
Other	$ (662,000)	$ 0	$ (541,000)	$ 0	$ (541,000)	$ 0	$ 9,687,000	$ 729,000	$ 0