NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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
RAI [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period				$ 279					$ 279
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	(40)	(26)	43	(587)	36	(45)	39	20	557	(1,679)
Noncontrolling interest, end of period	238				279				238	279
RSO [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period				582,323					582,323
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,187)	(23,708)	(8,372)	(12,314)	(14,668)	(17,917)	(15,945)	(14,030)	45,581	62,560	36,370
Noncontrolling interest, end of period	743,364				582,323				743,364	582,323
Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | RAI [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period				279				319	279	319	(3,474)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									20	557	(1,679)
Other comprehensive income									0	0	13
Proceeds from issuance of equity interests, net									24	0	0
Amortization of stock-based compensation									0	0	28
Discount on RSO senior convertible notes									0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests									(85)	(595)	0
Related party debt forgiveness											0
Deconsolidation of LEAF											1,647
Other									0	(2)	85
Exchange of LEAF Financial common stock held by management for LEAF common stock											3,468
LEAF common stock issuance costs											(221)
LEAF warrants issued to Guggenheim											452
Noncontrolling interest, end of period	238				279				238	279	319
Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | RSO [Member]
Activity in noncontrolling interests [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period				582,323				399,288	582,323	399,288	318,145
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									45,581	62,560	36,370
Other comprehensive income									13,035	19,249	(12,409)
Proceeds from issuance of equity interests, net									190,222	170,928	129,911
Amortization of stock-based compensation									10,472	4,636	2,526
Discount on RSO senior convertible notes									4,851	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests									(103,120)	(74,340)	(72,817)
Related party debt forgiveness											(1,552)
Deconsolidation of LEAF											0
Other									0	2	(886)
Exchange of LEAF Financial common stock held by management for LEAF common stock											0
LEAF common stock issuance costs											0
LEAF warrants issued to Guggenheim											0
Noncontrolling interest, end of period	$ 743,364				$ 582,323				$ 743,364	$ 582,323	$ 399,288