CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 54,016,000	$ 49,468,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,469,000
Provision for credit losses	3,342,000	3,793,000
Unrealized (losses) gains on trading securities	111,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(2,298,000)	(2,528,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	5,134,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	(22,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments		214,000
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(1,845,000)
Losses (gains) on sales of assets	439,000
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	4,838,000
Equity-based compensation issued	1,322,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	973,000
Loss from discontinued operations	0	2,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(13,055,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	96,784,000	18,736,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(291,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	25,000
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,561,000)
Principal payments on leases and loans	(22,000)
Purchase of loans and investments	(7,320,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	721,000
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(261,099,000)	206,967,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,520,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,813,000)
Dividends paid	(2,952,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	17,570,000
Repurchases of common stock	(8,358,000)
Increase in restricted cash	(133,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	170,890,000	(217,792,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	0	(371,000)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	0	(371,000)
Increase in cash	6,575,000	7,540,000
Cash, beginning of year	19,853,000	11,899,000
Cash, end of period	26,428,000	19,439,000
RAI [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,469,000	1,462,000
Provision for credit losses	3,342,000	3,793,000
Unrealized (losses) gains on trading securities	111,000	(774,000)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(2,298,000)	(2,528,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	5,134,000	3,099,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	(22,000)	0
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	0	214,000
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(1,845,000)	(4,551,000)
Losses (gains) on sales of assets	439,000	(1,632,000)
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	4,838,000	(254,000)
Equity-based compensation issued	1,322,000	942,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	973,000	6,445,000
Loss from discontinued operations	0	2,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(13,055,000)	1,465,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(291,000)	(1,035,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	25,000	2,049,000
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,561,000)	(2,058,000)
Principal payments on leases and loans	22,000	8,000
Purchase of loans and investments	(7,320,000)	(2,024,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	721,000	0
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,520,000	2,000,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,813,000)	(2,354,000)
Dividends paid	(2,952,000)	(1,194,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	17,570,000	1,253,000
Repurchases of common stock	(8,358,000)	(1,601,000)
Increase in restricted cash		0
Other	0	81,000
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Cash, beginning of year	19,853,000
Cash, end of period	26,428,000
RSO [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income and operating cash flows to net income (loss) of consolidated VIE-RSO	42,360,000	(38,415,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of loans and investments	(812,912,000)	(675,650,000)
Principal payments and proceeds from sales of loans and securities by consolidated VIE-RSO	552,913,000	842,252,000
Increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE-RSO	18,328,000	30,079,000
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE-RSO	(11,024,000)	13,346,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt by consolidated VIE-RSO	67,954,000	(320,834,000)
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE-RSO	(75,920,000)	(66,341,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	177,568,000	184,279,000
Other	$ (4,546,000)	$ (13,081,000)