VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES (Schedule of Investments) (Details) - RSO [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 16, 2011
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 55,858			$ 55,858		$ 750	$ 59,827
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				$ (276)	$ 286		$ (103)	$ 3,288
Varde Investment Partners, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				7.50%			7.50%
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 654			$ 654			654
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				0	0		0	(19)
RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				0			0			0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				0	770		46	2,506
Interest in LCC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities										39,416	$ 36,300
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				$ 961	13		$ 1,362	(859)
Investment in CVC Global Opps Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				14.10%			14.10%
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 12,877			$ 12,877			18,209
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				$ (628)	47		$ 293	2,004
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses and Interests in Affiliates	$ 5,000
Investment in Life Care Funding, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				60.70%			60.70%
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 0			$ 0			0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				0	0		0	(75)
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments		$ 1,400	$ 2,000
Investment in School Lane House [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				0			0			0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				1	57		1	1,106
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				54,310			54,310			58,279
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				$ 334	887		$ 1,702	4,663
Investment in RCT I and RCT II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				3.00%			3.00%
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 1,548			$ 1,548			1,548
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				(610)	(601)		(1,805)	(1,785)
Investment in Preferred Equity [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				0			0			0
Income (loss) and interest expense from equity method investments				$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 410
Minimum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				3.00%			3.00%
Maximum [Member] | RRE VIP Borrower, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage				5.00%			5.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Investment in CVC Global Opps Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments						$ 15,000
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 40,779			$ 40,779			$ 39,400
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%			28.40%