VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES RSO Income Statement Detail (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Interest income:
Interest expense	$ 455	$ 497	$ 876	$ 980
Rental income	1,700	1,578	2,900	2,517
Total revenues	45,996	42,335	88,185	84,951
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative - Corporate	4,181	2,729	7,478	5,883
Depreciation and amortization	515	465	972	916
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	71,833	30,576	108,749	57,222
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	2,897	1,047	4,741	1,678
Other income, net, from consolidated VIE - RSO	5,971	10,183	21,913	13,399
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	(19,866)	21,942	1,349	41,128
Income tax (expense) benefit - RSO	(3,775)	(1,735)	(6,866)	(2,820)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(1,652)	2,718	(1,315)	3,708
RSO [Member]
Interest income:
Loans	29,759	26,219	62,422	46,448
Securities	5,500	3,391	9,552	7,395
Leases	163	0	258	0
Interest income − other	1,119	982	1,951	3,834
Total interest income	36,541	30,592	74,183	57,677
Interest expense	15,803	10,610	30,705	20,238
Net interest income	20,738	19,982	43,478	37,439
Rental income	0	1,507	0	6,659
Dividend income	17	17	33	153
Fee income	3,446	2,322	5,051	4,822
Total revenues	24,201	23,828	48,562	49,073
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Management fees − related party	3,500	3,314	7,060	6,394
Equity compensation − related party	791	2,032	1,786	3,699
Rental operating expense	0	1,077	6	4,473
Lease operating	24	0	47	0
General and administrative - Corporate	4,067	4,750	8,850	7,589
General and administrative - PCM	6,722	4,138	13,801	7,565
Depreciation and amortization	621	760	1,186	1,596
Impairment losses	0	0	59	0
Provision (recovery) for loan losses	38,810	782	42,800	(3,178)
Total operating expenses	54,535	16,853	75,595	28,138
Reclassification of income tax expense	0	0		0
Expenses of consolidated VIE-RSO	54,535	16,853	75,595	28,138
Adjusted operating income	(30,334)	6,975	(27,033)	20,935
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities	662	1,762	1,368	3,776
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans and derivatives	9,745	1,648	24,168	3,736
Net realized and unrealized gains (loss) on investment securities, trading	279	(650)	2,353	(2,210)
Unrealized gain (loss) and net interest income on linked transactions, net	0	5,012	235	7,317
(Loss) on reissuance/ gain on extinguishment of debt	(171)	(533)	(1,071)	(602)
(Loss) gain on sale of real estate	22	3,042	0	3,042
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	(1,262)
Other income, net, from consolidated VIE - RSO	10,537	10,281	27,053	13,797
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	(19,797)	17,256	20	34,732
Income tax (expense) benefit - RSO	(2,918)	446	4,765	(430)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(22,715)	17,702	(4,745)	35,162
Net (loss) income allocated to preferred shares	(6,116)	(3,358)	(12,207)	(5,758)
Net (income) loss allocable to non-controlling interest, net of taxes	(2,180)	333	(4,657)	389
NET INCOME (LOSS) ALLOCABLE TO RSO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ (31,011)	$ 14,677	$ (21,609)	$ 29,793