VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES (Schedule of Investments) (Details) (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 16, 2011
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 55,488		$ 59,827
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	1,299	3,831
Varde Investment Partners, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	7.50%
Investments in unconsolidated entities	654		654
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	0	(1)
RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	46	866
Interest in LCC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	39,469		39,416
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	52	(594)
Investment in CVC Global Opps Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	20.60%
Investments in unconsolidated entities	13,817		18,209
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	608	834
Investment in Life Care Funding, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.20%
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	0	(75)
Investment in School Lane House [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	0	984
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	53,940		58,279
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	706	2,014
Investment in RCT I and RCT II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	3.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities	1,548		1,548
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	593	589
Investment in Preferred Equity [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments	0	1,228
Minimum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	3.00%
Maximum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	5.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 39,500		$ 39,400	$ 36,300
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member] | Interest in LCC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	28.40%