VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement Detail (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Interest income:
Interest expense	$ 421	$ 483
Rental income	1,200	939
Total revenues	42,189	42,616
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative - Corporate	3,297	3,154
Depreciation and amortization	457	451
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	36,916	26,646
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	1,844	631
Other income, net, from consolidated VIE - RSO	15,942	3,216
Income from continuing operations before taxes	21,215	19,186
Income tax (expense) benefit - RSO	(3,091)	(1,085)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	337	990
RSO [Member]
Interest income:
Loans	32,663	20,229
Securities	4,052	4,004
Leases	95	0
Interest income − other	832	2,852
Total interest income	37,642	27,085
Interest expense	14,902	9,628
Net interest income	22,740	17,457
Rental income	0	5,152
Dividend income	16	136
Fee income	1,605	2,500
Total revenues	24,361	25,245
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party	3,560	3,080
Equity compensation − related party	995	1,667
Rental operating expense	6	3,396
Lease operating	23	0
General and administrative - Corporate	4,783	2,840
General and administrative - PCM	7,079	3,426
Depreciation and amortization	565	836
Impairment losses	59	0
Provision (recovery) for loan losses	3,990	(3,960)
Total operating expenses	21,060	11,285
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	21,060	11,285
Adjusted operating income	3,301	13,960
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	706	2,014
Net realized gain (loss) on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans and derivatives	14,423	2,088
Net realized and unrealized gains (loss) on investment securities, trading	2,074	(1,560)
Unrealized gain (loss) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	235	2,305
(Loss) on reissuance/ gain on extinguishment of debt	(900)	(69)
(Loss) gain on sale of real estate	(22)	0
Other income (expense)	0	(1,262)
Other income, net, from consolidated VIE - RSO	16,516	3,516
Income from continuing operations before taxes	19,817	17,476
Income tax (expense) benefit - RSO	(1,847)	(16)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	17,970	17,460
Net (loss) income allocated to preferred shares	(6,091)	(2,400)
Net (income) loss allocable to non-controlling interest, net of taxes	(2,477)	56
NET INCOME (LOSS) ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 9,402	$ 15,116