VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Balance Sheets Detail (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,853	$ 11,899	$ 12,803	$ 14,530
Trading securities	317	5,365
Total investment securities, at fair value	7,839	10,576
Total assets	2,318,451	2,636,764	2,436,477
LIABILITIES
Total liabilities	1,421,125	1,902,974
Stockholders equity	153,724	151,188
RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	262,270	85,278	43,116	29,488
Restricted cash	63,309	94,112
Subtotal- Cash and cash equivalents	325,579	179,390
Trading securities	11,558	24,843
Investment securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	162,608	195,200
Investment securities available-for-sale	47,229	36,390
Total investment securities, at fair value	221,395	256,433
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $13.8 million and $17.7 million	1,369,526	1,793,780
Loans receivable–related party	6,966	8,324
Loans held for sale	21,916	48,894
Loans	1,397,458	1,849,428
Property available-for-sale	25,346	0
Investment in real estate	29,778	75,386
Investments in unconsolidated entities	74,438	45,413
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated entities	129,562	120,706
Linked transactions, net at fair value	30,066	6,835
Interest receivable	8,965	7,763
Deferred tax assets, net	5,212	2,766
Principal paydown receivable	6,821	25,570
Intangible assets	11,822	13,192
Prepaid expenses	2,871	10,396
Other assets	76,467	70,600
Total assets	2,150,461	2,476,557	2,282,986
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	1,320,015	1,785,600
Distribution payable	27,023	21,655
Accrued interest expense	1,693	2,918
Derivatives, at fair value	10,586	14,687
Accrued tax liability	1,629	13,641
Deferred tax liability	4,112	8,376
Accounts payable and other liabilities	12,650	18,029
Other liabilities	55,247	71,239
Total liabilities	1,375,262	1,856,839
Noncontrolling interests	743,364	582,323
Assets of consolidated Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) included in the total assets above:
Restricted cash	61,372	90,108
Investments securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	105,846	135,566
Loans held for sale	2,376	14,894
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $8.8 million and $15.2 million	1,219,569	1,678,719
Interest receivable	5,627	5,986
Prepaid expenses	247	328
Principal paydown receivable	6,821	25,570
Other assets	0	333
Total assets of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,401,858	1,951,504
Liabilities of consolidated VIEs included in the total liabilities above:
Borrowings	1,070,339	1,614,882
Accrued interest expense	918	2,666
Derivatives, at fair value	10,191	14,078
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,604	698
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,083,052	1,632,324
Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	167,990	160,207	153,491
LIABILITIES
Stockholders equity	148,753
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Loans	1,398,408	1,850,998
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated entities	129,562	120,799
Other assets	10,726	4,109
Other assets	76,483	70,631
Total assets	2,151,427	2,478,251
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	1,319,810	1,785,600
Other liabilities	57,693	79,306
Total liabilities	1,377,503	1,864,906
Stockholders equity	773,924	613,345
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Loans	(950)	(1,570)
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated entities	0	(93)
Other assets	(16)	(31)
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	205	0
Other liabilities	(2,446)	(8,067)
Stockholders equity	$ (30,560)	$ (31,022)