VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Loan Portfolio Aging Analysis as of the Dates Indicated at Cost Basis) (Details) RSO (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Greater than 90 Days	$ 1,546	$ 2,339
Total Past Due	36,705	37,076
Current	7,559	10,305
RSO [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	420	443
60-89 Days	0	82
Greater than 90 Days	303	1,469
Total Past Due	723	1,994
Current	2,216,592	2,041,612
Total Loans Receivable	2,217,315	2,043,606
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Financing Receivable, Net	1,969,858	1,935,793
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	248,451	111,736
RSO [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	1,362,382	1,263,592
Total Loans Receivable	1,362,382	1,263,592
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Financing Receivable, Net	1,362,382	1,263,592
RSO [Member] | B Notes [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	16,031	16,072
Total Loans Receivable	16,031	16,072
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Financing Receivable, Net	16,031	16,072
RSO [Member] | Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	67,471	67,366
Total Loans Receivable	67,471	67,366
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Financing Receivable, Net	67,471	67,366
RSO [Member] | Bank Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	215	1,350
Total Past Due	215	1,350
Current	297,994	329,580
Total Loans Receivable	298,209	330,930
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Financing Receivable, Net	298,209	330,930
RSO [Member] | Middle-market Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	294,793	250,113
Total Loans Receivable	294,793	250,113
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing		0
Financing Receivable, Net	294,793	250,113
RSO [Member] | Residential Mortgage Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	420	443
60-89 Days	0	82
Greater than 90 Days	88	119
Total Past Due	508	644
Current	176,692	113,612
Total Loans Receivable	177,200	114,256
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	174,559	111,454
RSO [Member] | Loans Receivable - Related Party [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Greater than 90 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	1,229	1,277
Total Loans Receivable	1,229	1,277
Total Loans Greater Than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Held for Sale [Member] | RSO [Member] | Whole Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	0	0
Held for Sale [Member] | RSO [Member] | B Notes [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	0	0
Held for Sale [Member] | RSO [Member] | Mezzanine Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	0	0
Held for Sale [Member] | RSO [Member] | Bank Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Net	73,900	282
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	73,892	282
Held for Sale [Member] | RSO [Member] | Middle-market Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	$ 0	$ 0