VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Loan Portfolio Aging Analysis as of the Dates Indicated at Cost Basis) (Details) RSO (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Greater than 90 days	$ 1,257	$ 754
Total Past Due	62,849	58,863
Current	4,394	4,427
RSO [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	234	1,549
60-89 Days	91	0
Greater than 90 days	3,822	3,891
Total Past Due	4,147	5,440
Current	1,397,818	1,863,249
Total Loans Receivable	1,401,965	1,868,689
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
RSO [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	745,789	567,938
Total Loans Receivable	745,789	567,938
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0
RSO [Member] | B Notes [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	16,205	16,327
Total Loans Receivable	16,205	16,327
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
RSO [Member] | Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	64,317	82,786
Total Loans Receivable	64,317	82,786
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
RSO [Member] | Bank Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	1,549
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	3,554	3,891
Total Past Due	3,554	5,440
Current	548,219	1,187,874
Total Loans Receivable	551,773	1,193,314
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
RSO [Member] | Residential Mortgage [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	234
60-89 Days	91
Greater than 90 days	268
Total Past Due	593
Current	16,322
Total Loans Receivable	16,915
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0
RSO [Member] | Loans Receivable - Related Party [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	6,966	8,324
Total Loans Receivable	6,966	8,324
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	$ 0	$ 0