VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement Detail (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Interest income:
Interest expense	$ 467	$ 530	$ 1,447	$ 1,525
Rental income	1,300		3,800
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	620	1,384	2,298	2,528
Revenues from consolidated VIE-RSO	50,409	43,025	152,175	119,837
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	2,426	2,505	8,309	6,807
Depreciation and amortization	453	413	1,369	1,318
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,504)	(1,983)	(4,324)
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	30,943	30,219	92,361	82,034
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
Other expense, net, from consolidated VIE-RSO	(2,243)	16,367	(1,474)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	17,223	29,173	58,340	53,295
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,504)	(1,983)	(4,324)
Net income	1,516	3,442	5,224	5,051
RSO [Member]
Interest income:
Loans	27,026	24,374	73,474	78,370
Securities	5,168	3,411	12,563	10,949
Interest income − other	1,647	679	5,481	3,180
Total interest income	33,841	28,464	91,518	92,499
Interest expense	11,589	11,762	31,836	34,061
Net interest income	22,252	16,702	59,682	58,438
Rental income	1,118	4,649	7,777	15,875
Dividend income	16	223	169	256
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	887	(535)	4,663	(888)
Fee income	2,344	1,245	7,166	4,182
Net realized and unrealized gains on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	7,546	570	15,487	3,355
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities, trading	376	(229)	(1,834)	(864)
Unrealized gain (losses) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	177	1,161	7,494	(4,343)
Revenues from consolidated VIE-RSO	34,716	23,786	100,604	76,011
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party	3,606	5,113	10,000	11,006
Equity compensation − related party	798	2,120	4,497	7,866
Rental operating expense	695	3,523	5,168	11,084
General and administrative	11,586	2,898	30,936	8,761
Depreciation and amortization	562	904	2,158	3,041
Income tax (benefit) expense	237	(722)	667	(4,221)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	255	0	811
Provision (recovery) for loan losses	1,439	741	(1,739)	541
Total operating expenses	18,449	16,276	50,353	47,331
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	18,686	15,554	51,020	43,110
Adjusted operating income	16,030	8,232	49,584	32,901
OTHER REVENUE (EXPENSE)
(Loss) gain on sale of real estate	(69)	16,607	2,973	16,607
Other expense	0	0	(1,262)	0
Loss on the reissuance of debt	(1,867)	0	(2,469)	0
Other expense, net, from consolidated VIE-RSO	(1,936)	16,607	(758)	16,607
Income from continuing operations before taxes	14,094	24,839	48,826	49,508
Income tax (benefit) expense	237	(722)	667	(4,221)
Net income	14,331	24,117	49,493	45,287
Net income allocated to preferred shares	(5,545)	(1,996)	(11,303)	(5,107)
Net income allocated to noncontrolling interests	(1,458)	0	(1,069)	0
NET INCOME ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 7,328	$ 22,121	$ 37,121	$ 40,180