VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Balance Sheets Detail (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,210	$ 19,853	$ 15,372	$ 11,899
Trading securities	977	317
Total investment securities, at fair value	9,100	7,839
Total assets	2,509,891	2,318,451	2,528,778
LIABILITIES
Total liabilities	1,605,511	1,421,125
Stockholders equity	154,167	153,724
RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	166,686	262,270	67,661	85,278
Restricted cash	115,952	63,309
Subtotal- Cash and cash equivalents	282,638	325,579
Trading securities	9,987	11,558
Investment securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	159,051	162,608
Investment securities available-for-sale	74,500	52,598
Total investment securities, at fair value	243,538	226,764
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $6.6 million and $13.8 million	1,596,731	1,369,526
Loans receivable–related party	6,498	6,966
Loans held for sale	15,389	21,916
Loans	1,618,060	1,397,458
Property available-for-sale	35,256	25,346
Investment in real estate	19,971	29,778
Investments in unconsolidated entities	62,053	69,069
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated entities	117,280	124,193
Linked transactions, net at fair value	34,829	30,066
Derivatives, at fair value	556	0
Interest receivable	10,503	8,965
Deferred tax assets, net	5,048	5,212
Principal paydown receivable	1	6,821
Intangible assets	11,283	11,822
Prepaid expenses	4,155	2,871
Other assets	79,819	76,467
Total assets	2,341,335	2,150,461	2,366,853
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	1,502,266	1,320,015
Distribution payable	27,601	27,023
Accrued interest expense	3,848	1,693
Derivatives, at fair value	10,242	10,586
Accrued tax liability	387	1,629
Deferred tax liability	4,036	4,112
Accounts payable and other liabilities	13,511	12,650
Other liabilities	56,934	55,247
Total liabilities	1,559,200	1,375,262
Noncontrolling interests	749,992	743,364
Assets of consolidated Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) included in the total assets above:
Restricted cash	113,362	61,372
Investments securities available-for-sale, pledged as collateral, at fair value	116,429	105,846
Loans held for sale	272	2,376
Loans, pledged as collateral and net of allowances of $5.1 million and $8.8 million	1,305,377	1,219,569
Interest receivable	6,626	5,627
Prepaid expenses	163	247
Principal paydown receivable	1	6,821
Total assets of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,542,230	1,401,858
Liabilities of consolidated VIEs included in the total liabilities above:
Borrowings	1,183,468	1,070,339
Accrued interest expense	1,356	918
Derivatives, at fair value	9,841	10,191
Accounts payable and other liabilities	4,150	1,604
Total liabilities of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,198,815	1,083,052
Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	168,556		161,925
LIABILITIES
Stockholders equity	148,967
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Loans	1,618,618	1,398,408
Other assets	13,459	10,726
Other assets	79,834	76,483
Total assets	2,341,908	2,151,427
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	1,502,089	1,319,810
Other liabilities	59,625	57,693
Total liabilities	1,561,714	1,377,503
Stockholders equity	780,194	773,924
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Total assets	(28,089)
LIABILITIES
Total liabilities	(3,087)
Stockholders equity	5,200
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | RSO [Member]
ASSETS
Loans	(558)	(950)
Other assets	(15)	(16)
LIABILITIES
Borrowings	177	205
Other liabilities	(2,691)	(2,446)
Stockholders equity	$ (30,202)	$ (30,560)