VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	$ 1,369,526	$ 1,793,780
Loans receivable-related party	6,966	8,324
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,369,526	1,793,780
Loans receivable-related party	6,966	8,324
CDO notes	1,070,339	1,614,883
Junior subordinated notes	51,005	50,814
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	77,304	106,303
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,358,434	1,848,617
Loans receivable-related party	6,966	8,324
CDO notes	653,617	1,405,124
Junior subordinated notes	17,499	17,308
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	77,304	106,303
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	0	0
Loans receivable-related party	0	0
CDO notes	0	0
Junior subordinated notes	0	0
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	545,352	1,186,642
Loans receivable-related party	0	0
CDO notes	653,617	1,405,124
Junior subordinated notes	0	0
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	0	0
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	813,082	661,975
Loans receivable-related party	6,966	8,324
CDO notes	0	0
Junior subordinated notes	17,499	17,308
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	$ 77,304	$ 106,303