VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Summary of Loans) (Details) RSO (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, allowance for loan loss	$ (32,527,000)	$ (39,030,000)	$ (36,243,000)	$ (35,760,000)	$ (34,616,000)	$ (32,628,000)
RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	1,757,201,000		1,390,843,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(7,795,000)		(7,510,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	1,749,406,000		1,383,333,000
Principal, allowance for loan loss	(4,507,000)		(13,807,000)
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, allowance for loan loss	0		0
Carrying Value, allowance for loan loss	(4,507,000)		(13,807,000)
Principal, Total	1,752,694,000		1,377,036,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, Total	(7,795,000)		(7,510,000)
Carrying Value, Total	1,744,899,000		1,369,526,000
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	91,382,000		21,916,000
Financing Receivable, Net and Loans Receivable Held-for-sale	1,844,076,000		1,398,952,000
Net Carrying Value of Loans Held for Investment and Loans Held for Sale	1,836,281,000		1,391,442,000
Deferred amendment fees	133,000		216,000
Whole Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	1,028,393,000		749,083,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(5,422,000)		(3,294,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	1,022,971,000		745,789,000
Principal, Total	1,022,971,000		745,789,000
B Notes [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	16,164,000		16,288,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(57,000)		(83,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	16,107,000		16,205,000
Principal, Total	16,107,000		16,205,000
Mezzanine Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	67,400,000		64,417,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(95,000)		(100,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	67,305,000		64,317,000
Principal, Total	67,305,000		64,317,000
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	1,111,957,000		829,788,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(5,574,000)		(3,477,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	1,106,383,000		826,311,000
Loan origination fees	5,600,000		3,300,000
Extension and exit fees	0		73,000
Bank Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	642,419,000		559,206,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	(2,221,000)		(4,033,000)
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	640,198,000		555,173,000
Principal, Total	676,872,000		562,023,000
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	36,700,000		6,900,000
Deferred upfront fee	97,000		141,000
Residential Mortgage [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal, loans before allowances	2,825,000		1,849,000
Unamortized (Discount) Premium, loans before allowances	0		0
Carrying Value, loans before allowances	2,825,000		1,849,000
Residential Mortgage Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	54,708,000		15,066,000
Bank Loans [Member] | RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	$ 36,674,000		$ 6,850,000