RSO INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization		$ 416,000	$ 535,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Preferred equity acquired	66.60%
Write-off of unamortized balance of intangible asset	2,600,000
Depreciation and amortization		1,138,000	1,361,000
Expected amortization, 2013		1,900,000
Expected amortization, 2014		1,800,000
Weighted average amortization period (in years)		8 years 6 months		8 years 8 months 12 days
Accumulated amortization		11,043,000		10,511,000
Fee income		1,410,000	1,610,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Investment in RCAM [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization		8,624,000		8,108,000
Fee income		1,400,000	1,900,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Depreciation and Amortization [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization		$ 657,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Whitney CLO I, Ltd. [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Preferred equity acquired	66.60%
Ownership interests in variable interest entities (in hundredths)	66.60%
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Whitney CLO I, Ltd. [Member] | VIE, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Ownership interests in variable interest entities (in hundredths)		68.30%