VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement Detail (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Interest income:
Interest expense									$ 2,036,000	$ 2,289,000	$ 15,948,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities									5,389,000	4,083,000	9,507,000
Total revenues	33,911,000	43,025,000	33,485,000	43,327,000	43,935,000	47,889,000	35,811,000	39,996,000	153,748,000	167,631,000	168,530,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative									10,268,000	9,792,000	11,302,000
Depreciation and amortization									1,936,000	2,084,000	11,675,000
Income tax (benefit) expense									616,000
Provision for loan losses				1,000,000	4,500,000	6,300,000	5,700,000
Costs and Expenses									116,679,000	124,344,000	130,795,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Gain on the extinguishment of debt											(2,190,000)
Other income (expense), net									15,576,000	71,621,000	(5,661,000)
Total other revenue (expense)									15,576,000
Income from continuing operations before taxes									52,645,000	114,908,000	32,074,000
Income tax (benefit) expense									616,000
Net income (loss)	1,375,000	3,442,000	1,113,000	496,000	(1,534,000)	(2,267,000)	30,211,000	(2,382,000)	6,426,000	24,028,000	(13,064,000)
RSO [Member]
Interest income:
Loans									99,455,000	109,030,000	86,739,000
Securities									14,309,000	14,296,000	12,424,000
Interest income − other									4,212,000	10,004,000	10,711,000
Total interest income									117,976,000	133,330,000	109,874,000
Interest expense									61,010,000	42,792,000	32,186,000
Net interest income									56,966,000	90,538,000	77,688,000
Rental income									19,923,000	11,463,000	3,656,000
Dividend income									273,000	69,000	3,045,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities									949,000	(2,709,000)	112,000
Fee income									6,075,000	7,068,000	7,789,000
Net realized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans									10,986,000	4,106,000	2,643,000
Net realized and unrealized gain on investment securities, trading									(324,000)	12,435,000	837,000
Unrealized gain and net interest income on linked transactions, net									(3,841,000)	728,000	216,000
Total revenues									91,007,000	123,698,000	95,986,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party									14,220,000	18,512,000	11,022,000
Equity compensation − related party									10,472,000	4,636,000	2,526,000
Rental operating expense									14,062,000	8,046,000	2,743,000
General and administrative									16,110,000	9,773,000	8,399,000
Depreciation and amortization									3,855,000	5,885,000	4,619,000
Income tax (benefit) expense									(1,041,000)	14,602,000	12,036,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings									863,000	180,000	6,898,000
Provision for loan losses									3,020,000	16,818,000	13,896,000
Total operating expenses									61,561,000	78,452,000	62,139,000
Costs and Expenses									62,602,000	63,850,000	50,103,000
Adjusted operating income									28,405,000	59,848,000	45,883,000
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Gain on consolidation									0	2,498,000	0
Gain on the extinguishment of debt									0	16,699,000	3,875,000
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investment Real Estate									16,616,000	0	0
Other income (expense), net									391,000	0	(6,000)
Total other revenue (expense)									17,007,000	19,197,000	3,869,000
Income from continuing operations before taxes									45,412,000	79,045,000	49,752,000
Income tax (benefit) expense									(1,041,000)	14,602,000	12,036,000
Net income (loss)									46,453,000	64,443,000	37,716,000
Net income allocated to preferred shares									(7,221,000)	(1,244,000)	0
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO COMMON SHARES									$ 39,232,000	$ 63,199,000	$ 37,716,000