RESTATEMENT (Restatement - Cash Flow) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 As Previously Reported	Mar. 31, 2012 As Previously Reported	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustments - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Restatement Adjustments - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported	Mar. 31, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported	Mar. 31, 2013 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]
Net income	$ 12,767,000	$ 11,609,000	$ (860,000)	$ 563,000	$ (159,000)	$ (1,784,000)	$ 701,000	$ (2,347,000)	$ (562,000)	$ (525,000)			$ 701,000	$ (2,347,000)	$ 12,628,000	$ 14,481,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	456,000	606,000	550,000	3,087,000	1,006,000	3,693,000	456,000	606,000			456,000	606,000	456,000	606,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	214,000	74,000	0	0	214,000	74,000	214,000	74,000			214,000	74,000	214,000	74,000
Provision for credit losses	338,000	2,962,000	5,152,000	2,250,000	5,490,000	5,212,000	338,000	2,962,000			338,000	2,962,000	338,000	2,962,000
Unrealized gain on trading securities	(745,000)		(164,000)		(909,000)		(745,000)				(745,000)	0	(745,000)
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities	(1,261,000)	329,000	(1,201,000)	(557,000)	(2,462,000)	(228,000)	(1,261,000)	329,000			(1,261,000)	329,000	(1,261,000)	329,000
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	716,000	858,000	1,011,000	1,163,000	1,727,000	2,021,000	716,000	858,000			716,000	858,000	716,000	858,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt				2,190,000		2,190,000		0
Gain on sale of assets	(1,606,000)		(831,000)		(2,437,000)		(1,606,000)				(1,606,000)	0	(1,606,000)
Gain on sale of loans and investment securities, net	(517,000)	(5,000)	(307,000)	(58,000)	(824,000)	(63,000)	(517,000)	(5,000)			(517,000)	(5,000)	(517,000)	(5,000)
Gain on sale of leases and loans				(37,000)		(37,000)		0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries				(8,749,000)		(8,749,000)		0
Deferred income tax benefit	(146,000)	(1,323,000)	(241,000)	154,000	(387,000)	(1,169,000)	(146,000)	(1,323,000)			(146,000)	(1,323,000)	(146,000)	(1,323,000)
Equity-based compensation issued	293,000	319,000	205,000	498,000	498,000	817,000	293,000	319,000	(484,000)	(165,000)	293,000	319,000	293,000	319,000	484,000	165,000
Equity-based compensation received	0	0	(206,000)	0	(860,000)	(164,000)	(654,000)	(164,000)	654,000	164,000			(654,000)	(164,000)
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	2,831,000		(1,828,000)		1,003,000		2,831,000				2,831,000	0	2,831,000
Loss from discontinued operations	2,000	16,000	6,000		8,000	36,000	2,000	16,000			2,000	16,000	2,000	16,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	4,171,000	(2,864,000)	(4,666,000)	(1,412,000)	(501,000)	(4,296,000)	4,165,000	(2,864,000)	6,000		4,171,000	(2,864,000)	4,165,000	(2,864,000)
Changes in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE- RSO									(170,000)	1,000			0		27,803,000	(14,110,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	45,146,000	(1,528,000)	(3,380,000)	(908,000)	1,407,000	(2,447,000)	4,787,000	(1,539,000)	(556,000)	(525,000)			4,787,000	(1,539,000)	40,915,000	536,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(171,000)	11,000	(80,000)	(106,000)	(251,000)	(95,000)	(171,000)	11,000			(171,000)	11,000	(171,000)	11,000
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	2,049,000		712,000	1,550,000	2,761,000	1,550,000	2,049,000	0			2,049,000	0	2,049,000
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated real estate entities	(509,000)	(376,000)	(1,012,000)	(127,000)	(1,521,000)	(503,000)	(509,000)	(376,000)			(509,000)	(376,000)	(509,000)	(376,000)
Purchase of commercial finance assets				(18,483,000)		(18,483,000)		0
Principal payments (paid) received on leases and loans	(3,000)	6,000	3,000	9,031,000	0	9,037,000	(3,000)	6,000			(3,000)	6,000	(3,000)	6,000
Purchase of loans and investments	(1,526,000)	(136,000)	(1,323,000)	(600,000)	(2,849,000)	(736,000)	(1,526,000)	(136,000)			(1,526,000)	(136,000)	(1,526,000)	(136,000)	(209,991,000)	(167,505,000)
Increase in restricted cash - consolidated VIE RSO	95,000	0													(19,241,000)	9,196,000
Other - consolidated VIE - RSO										20,000					(4,499,000)	1,081,000
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	275,663,000														275,663,000	162,632,000
Cash divested on deconsolidation of LEAF				(2,284,000)		(2,284,000)		0
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments		70,000		207,000		277,000		70,000			0	70,000		70,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	41,772,000	4,999,000	(1,700,000)	(10,812,000)	(1,860,000)	(11,237,000)	(160,000)	(425,000)	0	20,000			(160,000)	(425,000)	41,932,000	5,404,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,000,000		0	128,845,000	2,000,000	128,845,000	2,000,000	0			2,000,000	0	2,000,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,111,000)	(101,000)	(229,000)	(123,823,000)	(2,340,000)	(123,924,000)	(2,111,000)	(101,000)			(2,111,000)	(101,000)	(2,111,000)	(101,000)
Net repayments of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO															(104,196,000)	(9,537,000)
Dividends paid	(589,000)	(566,000)	(593,000)	(569,000)	(1,182,000)	(1,135,000)	(589,000)	(566,000)		505,000	(589,000)	(566,000)	(589,000)	(566,000)	0	(19,979,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO															44,862,000	24,158,000
Dividends paid on common stock of consolidated VIE - RSO									556,000						(20,978,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(54,000)	(16,000)	(1,078,000)	(939,000)	(1,132,000)	(955,000)	(54,000)	(16,000)			(54,000)	(16,000)	(54,000)	(16,000)
Increase in restricted cash	95,000		3,000	(633,000)	98,000	(652,000)	95,000	0					95,000
Preferred stock dividends paid by LEAF to RSO				(188,000)		(188,000)		0
Other financing activities		(44,000)	(150,000)	(2,250,000)	(150,000)	(2,275,000)	0	(44,000)			0	(44,000)		(44,000)	(2,535,000)	(582,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(82,950,000)	(6,162,000)	(2,047,000)	443,000	(2,706,000)	(284,000)	(659,000)	(727,000)	556,000	505,000			(659,000)	(727,000)	(82,847,000)	(5,940,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	(495,000)	(194,000)	(367,000)	(375,000)	(862,000)	(569,000)	(495,000)	(194,000)					(495,000)	(194,000)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	(495,000)	(194,000)	(367,000)	(375,000)	(862,000)	(569,000)	(495,000)	(194,000)					(495,000)	(194,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash	3,473,000	(2,885,000)	(7,494,000)	(11,652,000)	(4,021,000)	(14,537,000)	3,473,000	(2,885,000)	0	0			3,473,000	(2,885,000)	0	0
Cash, beginning of year	11,899,000	12,803,000	19,393,000	24,455,000	19,393,000	24,455,000	11,899,000	12,803,000	0	0	11,899,000		11,899,000	12,803,000	0	0
Cash, end of period	$ 15,372,000	$ 9,918,000	$ 11,899,000	$ 12,803,000	$ 15,372,000	$ 9,918,000	$ 15,372,000	$ 9,918,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 15,372,000		$ 15,372,000	$ 9,918,000	$ 0	$ 0