VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement Detail (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Interest income:
Interest expense	$ 497	$ 501	$ 980	$ 995
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,047	(117)	1,678	1,144
Total revenues	53,115	33,485	102,417	76,812
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	2,729	2,149	5,883	4,302
Depreciation and amortization	465	489	916	905
Income tax expense	(1,735)	(226)	(2,820)
Costs and Expenses	33,584	23,361	62,069	51,815
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Other expense, net from consolidated VIE - RSO	2,411	(387)	780
Income from continuing operations before taxes	21,942	9,737	41,128	24,122
Income tax expense	(1,735)	(226)	(2,820)
Net income	2,718	1,113	3,708	1,609
RSO [Member]
Interest income:
Loans	26,219	26,184	46,448	53,996
Securities	3,391	3,896	7,395	7,538
Interest income − other	982	635	3,834	2,501
Total interest income	30,592	30,715	57,677	64,035
Interest expense	10,610	11,134	20,247	22,299
Net interest income	19,982	19,581	37,430	41,736
Rental income	1,507	5,052	6,659	11,226
Dividend income	17	17	153	33
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,762	72	3,776	(353)
Fee income	2,717	1,527	5,473	2,937
Net realized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	4,261	2,394	7,941	2,785
Net realized and unrealized gain on investment securities, trading	(650)	(1,751)	(2,210)	(635)
Unrealized gain and net interest income on linked transactions, net	5,012	(5,245)	7,317	(5,504)
Total revenues	34,608	21,647	66,539	52,225
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party	3,314	2,915	6,394	5,893
Equity compensation − related party	2,032	2,155	3,699	5,746
Rental operating expense	1,077	3,624	4,473	7,561
General and administrative	11,896	2,382	20,001	5,863
Depreciation and amortization	760	999	1,596	2,137
Income tax expense	446	(1,737)	430	(3,499)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	535	0	556
Provision for loan losses	782	(1,242)	(3,178)	(200)
Total operating expenses	19,415	13,105	32,555	31,055
Costs and Expenses	19,861	11,368	32,985	27,556
Adjusted operating income	14,747	10,279	33,554	24,669
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Gain on sale of real estate	3,042	0	3,042	0
Other expense	0	0	(1,262)	0
Loss on the reissuance of debt	(533)	0	(602)	0
Other expense, net from consolidated VIE - RSO	2,509	0	1,178	0
Income from continuing operations before taxes	17,256	10,279	34,732	24,669
Income tax expense	446	(1,737)	430	(3,499)
Net income	17,702	8,542	35,162	21,170
Net income allocated to preferred shares	(3,358)	(1,800)	(5,758)	(3,111)
Net income allocated to noncontrolling interests	333	(209)	389	0
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 14,677	$ 6,533	$ 29,793	$ 18,059