VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Summary of Loans) (Details) RSO (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, allowance for loan loss	$ (37,451,000)	$ (36,243,000)	$ (32,960,000)	$ (32,628,000)
RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	1,625,600,000	1,412,759,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(6,894,000)	(7,510,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	1,618,706,000	1,405,249,000
Principal, allowance for loan loss	(6,585,000)	(13,807,000)		(17,691,000)
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, allowance for loan loss	0	0
Carrying Value, allowance for loan loss	(6,585,000)	(13,807,000)
Principal, Total	1,619,015,000	1,398,952,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, Total	(6,894,000)	(7,510,000)
Carrying Value, Total	1,612,121,000	1,391,442,000
Deferred amendment fees	200,000	216,000
Whole Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	837,514,000	749,083,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(3,661,000)	(3,294,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	833,853,000	745,789,000
Principal, Total	833,853,000	745,789,000
B Notes [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	16,242,000	16,288,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(74,000)	(83,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	16,168,000	16,205,000
Principal, Total	16,168,000	16,205,000
Mezzanine Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	64,390,000	64,417,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(91,000)	(100,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	64,299,000	64,317,000
Principal, Total	64,299,000	64,317,000
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	918,146,000	829,788,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(3,826,000)	(3,477,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	914,320,000	826,311,000
Loan origination fees	3,700,000	3,300,000
Extension and exit fees	62,000	73,000
Bank Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	690,494,000	566,056,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(3,068,000)	(4,033,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	687,426,000	562,023,000
Principal, allowance for loan loss	(741,000)	(3,391,000)		(9,705,000)
Principal, Total	687,426,000	562,023,000
Deferred upfront fee	127,000	141,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	272,000	6,900,000
Residential Mortgage [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	16,960,000	16,915,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	0	0
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	16,960,000	16,915,000
Loans held for sale, investment in debt and equity securities	$ 15,100,000	$ 15,000,000