VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Loan Portfolio Aging Analysis as of the Dates Indicated at Cost Basis) (Details) RSO (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Greater than 90 days	$ 1,150	$ 1,257
Total Past Due	62,906	62,849
Current	8,808	4,394
RSO [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	234
60-89 Days	0	91
Greater than 90 days	1,951	3,822
Total Past Due	1,951	4,147
Current	1,790,981	1,408,068
Total Loans Receivable	1,792,932	1,412,215
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	181,395	203,958
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	40,286	21,916
RSO [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	954,746	745,789
Total Loans Receivable	954,746	745,789
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	134,511	156,331
RSO [Member] | B Notes [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	16,138	16,205
Total Loans Receivable	16,138	16,205
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	0	0
RSO [Member] | Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	67,260	64,317
Total Loans Receivable	67,260	64,317
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	38,072	38,072
RSO [Member] | Bank Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	1,685	3,554
Total Past Due	1,685	3,554
Current	720,323	558,469
Total Loans Receivable	722,008	562,023
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	1,685	3,554
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	15,400	6,900
RSO [Member] | Residential Mortgage [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	234
60-89 Days	0	91
Greater than 90 days	266	268
Total Past Due	266	593
Current	27,063	16,322
Total Loans Receivable	27,329	16,915
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	2,470	268
RSO [Member] | Loans Receivable - Related Party [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	5,451	6,966
Total Loans Receivable	5,451	6,966
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans, unpaid principal balance	4,657	5,733
RSO [Member] | Residential Mortgage Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	24,900	15,100
Loans Receivable [Member] | RSO [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans, unpaid principal balance	4,800
Loans, fair value	$ 119