VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES (Schedule of Investments) (Details) (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 62,053		$ 69,069
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	1,669	(779)
Varde Investment Partners, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	673		674
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	(1)	24
Ownership percentage	7.50%
RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	866	(113)
Investment in LEAF Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	40,421		41,016
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	(594)	(336)
Ownership percentage	27.50%
Investment in RCT I and RCT II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	1,548		1,548
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	(589)	(593)
Ownership percentage	3.00%
Investment in Preferred Equity [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	2,400		8,124
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	1,228	239
Investment in CVC Global Opps Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	17,011		16,177
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	834	0
Ownership percentage	34.40%
Investment in Life Care Funding, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		1,530
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	$ (75)	$ 0
Ownership percentage	30.00%
Minimum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	3.00%
Maximum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	5.00%