VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Summary of Loans) (Details) RSO (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	$ 36,243,000	$ 32,628,000	$ 12,604,000	$ 2,696,000
RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Deferred amendment fees	216,000	450,000
Net carrying value of loans held for investment	1,391,442,000	1,842,674,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, net	(7,510,000)	(27,460,000)
Loans and receivables	1,398,952,000	1,870,134,000
Carrying value, allowance for loan loss	13,807,000	17,691,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross, allowance for loan loss	0	0
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	13,807,000	17,691,000	27,518,000
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,405,249,000	1,860,365,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(7,510,000)	(27,460,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,412,759,000	1,887,825,000
Number of loans held for sale		2
Whole Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and receivables	745,789,000	567,938,000
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	745,789,000	567,938,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(3,294,000)	(1,891,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	749,083,000	569,829,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	34,000,000
Number of loans held for sale		2
B Notes [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and receivables	16,205,000	16,327,000
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	16,205,000	16,327,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(83,000)	(114,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	16,288,000	16,441,000
Mezzanine Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and receivables	64,317,000	82,786,000
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	64,317,000	82,786,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(100,000)	(206,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	64,417,000	82,992,000
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	826,311,000	667,051,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(3,477,000)	(2,211,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	829,788,000	669,262,000
Loan origination fees	3,300,000	1,900,000
Extension and exit fees	73,000	214,000
Bank Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and receivables	551,773,000	1,193,314,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	3,391,000	9,705,000	3,297,000
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	551,773,000	1,193,314,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(4,033,000)	(25,249,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	555,806,000	1,218,563,000
Deferred upfront fee	141,000	334,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	6,900,000	14,900,000
Middle-market Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	10,250,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	0
Financing Receivable, Gross	10,250,000
Residential Mortgage [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	16,915,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	0
Financing Receivable, Gross	16,915,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	$ 15,000,000