VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	$ 1,596,731	$ 1,369,526
Loans receivable-related party	6,498	6,966
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,596,731	1,369,526
Loans receivable-related party	6,498	6,966
CDO notes	1,183,469	1,070,339
Junior subordinated notes	51,054	51,005
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	160,436	77,304
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans held-for-investment	1,591,875	1,358,434
Loans receivable-related party	6,498	6,966
CDO notes	1,066,399	653,617
Junior subordinated notes	17,548	17,499
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	160,436	77,304
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	687,086	545,352
Loans receivable-related party	0	0
CDO notes	1,066,399	653,617
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	904,789	813,082
Loans receivable-related party	6,498	6,966
CDO notes	0	0
Junior subordinated notes	17,548	17,499
Repurchase Agreements, Asset	$ 160,436	$ 77,304