VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
REVENUES:
Interest expense	$ 494,000	$ 645,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,261,000	(329,000)
Revenues	43,327,000	39,996,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	2,153,000	2,467,000
Depreciation and amortization	416,000	535,000
Income tax provision - RAI	1,616,000	1,292,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE -RSO	28,454,000	26,518,000
OPERATING INCOME	14,873,000	13,478,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	496,000	(2,382,000)
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
REVENUES:
Loans	27,812,000	23,615,000
Securities	3,642,000	3,405,000
Interest income − other	1,866,000	2,829,000
Total interest income	33,320,000	29,849,000
Interest expense	11,165,000	8,383,000
Net interest income	22,155,000	21,466,000
Rental income	6,174,000	1,919,000
Dividend income	16,000	17,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(425,000)	1,071,000
Fee income	1,410,000	1,610,000
Net realized and unrealized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	391,000	380,000
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on investment securities, trading	1,116,000	2,144,000
Unrealized gain (loss) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	(259,000)	119,000
Revenues	30,578,000	28,726,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party	2,978,000	3,443,000
Equity compensation − related party	3,591,000	868,000
Professional services	1,446,000	1,100,000
Insurance	162,000	158,000
Rental operating expense	3,937,000	1,320,000
General and administrative	1,873,000	1,063,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,138,000	1,361,000
Income tax provision - RAI	1,762,000	2,615,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	21,000	139,000
Provision for loan losses	1,042,000	2,178,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE -RSO	16,188,000	11,630,000
OPERATING INCOME	14,390,000	17,096,000
Total operating expenses	17,950,000	14,245,000
Income from continuing operations	14,390,000	17,096,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	12,628,000	14,481,000
Net income allocated to preferred shares	(1,311,000)	0
Net income allocated to noncontrolling interests	209,000	0
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHARES	$ 11,526,000	$ 14,481,000