VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,372	$ 11,899	$ 9,918	$ 12,803
Investment securities, trading	3,796	5,365
Total investment securities, at fair value	9,821	10,576
Total assets	2,528,778	2,636,764	2,449,768
Liabilities:
Liabilities	1,750,940	1,902,974
Stockholders' Equity	151,285	151,188
Assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs included
Total assets of consolidated VIE - RSO	2,366,853	2,476,557
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,708,504	1,856,839
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	67,661	85,278	37,562	43,116
Restricted cash	112,131	94,112
Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash)	179,792	179,390
Investment securities, trading	32,892	24,843
Investment securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	192,673	195,200
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value	49,609	36,390
Total investment securities, at fair value	275,174	256,433
Loans	1,732,980	1,849,428
Investment in real estate	75,142	75,386
Investments in unconsolidated entities	48,419	45,413
Investment in real estate and unconsolidated entities	123,453	120,706
Linked transactions, net at fair value	22,455	6,835
Interest receivable	8,913	7,763
Deferred tax assets, net	2,887	2,766
Principal paydown receivable	20	25,570
Intangible assets	12,660	13,192
Prepaid expenses	3,839	10,396
Other assets	4,712	4,109
Other assets	55,454	70,600
Total assets	2,366,853	2,476,557
Liabilities:
Borrowings	1,649,840	1,785,600
Distribution payable	22,731	21,655
Accrued interest expense	3,096	2,918
Derivatives, at fair value	14,036	14,687
Accrued tax liability	1,859	13,641
Deferred tax liability	8,376	8,376
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	10,877	18,029
Other liabilities	58,664	71,239
Liabilities	1,708,504	1,856,839
Noncontrolling interests	626,316	582,323
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Resource Capital Corp [Member]
ASSETS
Loans held for sale	18,150	48,894
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $17.0 million and $17.7 million	1,708,540	1,793,780
Loans receivable–related party	7,860	8,324
Loans	1,734,550	1,850,998
Investment in real estate and unconsolidated entities	123,561	120,799
Other assets	55,486	70,631
Total assets	2,368,563	2,478,251
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	60,975	79,306
Liabilities	1,710,815	1,864,906
Stockholders' Equity	657,748	613,345
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	(29,312)		(25,747)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Resource Capital Corp [Member]
ASSETS
Loans	(1,570)	(1,570)
Investment in real estate and unconsolidated entities	(108)	(93)
Other assets	(32)	(31)
Liabilities:
Other liabilities	(2,311)	(8,067)
Stockholders' Equity	(31,432)	(31,022)
VIE, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Resource Capital Corp [Member]
Assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs included
Restricted cash	107,620	90,108
Investment securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	137,553	135,566
Loans held for sale	18,150	14,894
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $13.3 million and $15.2 million	1,533,796	1,678,719
Interest receivable	6,527	5,986
Prepaid assets	303	328
Principal receivable	21	25,570
Other assets	0	333
Total assets of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,803,970	1,951,504
Borrowings	1,475,014	1,614,882
Accrued interest expense	2,528	2,666
Derivatives, at fair value	13,478	14,078
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,423	698
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE - RSO	$ 1,492,443	$ 1,632,324