RSO LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Summary of Loans) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Allowance for loan loss	$ (32,960,000)	$ (32,628,000)	$ (15,572,000)	$ (12,604,000)
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	1,766,499,000	1,887,825,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(22,833,000)	(27,460,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,743,666,000	1,860,365,000
Allowance for loan loss	(16,976,000)	(17,691,000)		(27,518,000)
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross, allowance for loan loss	0	0
Carrying value, allowance for loan loss	(16,976,000)	(17,691,000)
Principal, Net	1,749,523,000	1,870,134,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, net	(22,833,000)	(27,460,000)
Net carrying value of loans held for investment	1,726,690,000	1,842,674,000
Deferred amendment fees	375,000	450,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	18,200,000	14,900,000
Number of loans held for sale		2
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Bank Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	1,114,684,000	1,218,563,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(20,501,000)	(25,249,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,094,183,000	1,193,314,000
Deferred upfront fee	310,000	334,000
Loans held for sale, net	1,100,000,000	1,200,000,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Loans held for sale, net		34,000,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	651,815,000	669,262,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(2,332,000)	(2,211,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	649,483,000	667,051,000
Loan origination fees	2,000,000	1,900,000
Extension and exit fees	194,000	214,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	552,449,000	569,829,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(2,035,000)	(1,891,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	550,414,000	567,938,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | B Notes [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	16,399,000	16,441,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(106,000)	(114,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	16,293,000	16,327,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Principal, Gross	82,967,000	82,992,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(191,000)	(206,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	$ 82,776,000	$ 82,786,000