VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
REVENUES:
Interest expense	$ 501,000	$ 578,000	$ 995,000	$ 1,223,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(117,000)	273,000	1,144,000	(56,000)
Revenues	33,485,000	35,811,000	76,812,000	75,807,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
General and administrative	2,149,000	2,567,000	4,302,000	5,034,000
Depreciation and amortization	489,000	528,000	905,000	1,063,000
Income tax (benefit) provision	226,000	18,665,000	1,842,000	20,341,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE - RSO	23,361,000	30,001,000	51,815,000	56,519,000
OPERATING INCOME	10,124,000	5,810,000	24,997,000	19,288,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Other income, net	114,000	5,350,000	334,000	5,508,000
Net income attributable to common shareholders	1,113,000	30,211,000	1,609,000	27,829,000
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
REVENUES:
Loans	26,184,000	23,012,000	53,996,000	46,627,000
Securities	3,896,000	3,551,000	7,538,000	6,956,000
Interest income − other	635,000	3,157,000	2,501,000	5,986,000
Total interest income	30,715,000	29,720,000	64,035,000	59,569,000
Interest expense	11,134,000	8,869,000	22,299,000	17,252,000
Net interest income	19,581,000	20,851,000	41,736,000	42,317,000
Rental income	5,052,000	2,034,000	11,226,000	3,953,000
Dividend income	17,000	17,000	33,000	34,000
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	72,000	(1,761,000)	(353,000)	(690,000)
Fee income	1,527,000	2,141,000	2,937,000	3,751,000
Net realized and unrealized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	2,394,000	1,422,000	2,785,000	1,802,000
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on investment securities, trading	(1,751,000)	1,424,000	(635,000)	3,568,000
Unrealized gain (loss) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	(5,245,000)	134,000	(5,504,000)	253,000
Revenues	21,647,000	26,262,000	52,225,000	54,988,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
Management fees − related party	2,915,000	4,548,000	5,893,000	7,991,000
Equity compensation − related party	2,155,000	1,140,000	5,746,000	2,008,000
Professional services	903,000	617,000	2,349,000	1,717,000
Insurance	212,000	159,000	374,000	317,000
Rental operating expense	3,624,000	1,309,000	7,561,000	2,629,000
General and administrative	1,267,000	1,470,000	3,140,000	2,533,000
Depreciation and amortization	999,000	1,364,000	2,137,000	2,725,000
Income tax (benefit) provision	1,737,000	384,000	3,499,000	2,999,000
Expenses from consolidated VIE - RSO	11,368,000	14,892,000	27,556,000	26,522,000
OPERATING INCOME	10,279,000	11,370,000	24,669,000	28,466,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	535,000	32,000	556,000	171,000
Provision for loan losses	(1,242,000)	4,253,000	(200,000)	6,431,000
Total operating expenses	13,105,000	15,276,000	31,055,000	29,521,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Gain on the extinguishment of debt	0	5,464,000	0	5,464,000
Gain on sale of real estate	0	0	0	0
Other income, net	0	5,464,000	0	5,464,000
Income from continuing operations	10,279,000	16,834,000	24,669,000	33,930,000
Net income attributable to common shareholders	8,542,000	16,450,000	21,170,000	30,931,000
Net income allocated to preferred shares	(1,800,000)	(25,000)	(3,111,000)	(25,000)
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHARES	$ 6,742,000	$ 16,425,000	$ 18,059,000	$ 30,906,000