DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Less: Carrying value of commercial mortgage loans		$ (77,121,000)
Gain on disposition of assets held for sale		5,151,000
Assets held for sale
Loans receivable, net	$ 103,440,000	103,440,000	$ 189,052,000
Cash and cash equivalents	15,936,000	15,936,000	9,937,000
Restricted cash	819,000	819,000	916,000
Accounts receivable and interest receivable, net	691,000	691,000	738,000
Other intangible assets	2,957,000	2,957,000	2,957,000
Other assets	5,149,000	5,149,000	5,199,000
Assets held for sale	128,992,000	128,992,000	208,799,000
Liabilities of assets held for sale
Debt	47,121,000	47,121,000	41,901,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,302,000	2,302,000	2,709,000
Other liabilities	3,317,000	3,317,000	5,181,000
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale	52,740,000	52,740,000	49,791,000
Lending division
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Proceeds received	84,928,000
Less: Carrying value of commercial mortgage loans	(77,121,000)
Gain on sale before transaction costs	7,807,000
Transaction costs	(2,656,000)
Gain on disposition of assets held for sale	5,151,000
Unamortized acquisition discounts	15,951,000	15,951,000
Lending division | Held for sale
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Transaction costs from sales		$ 675,000	$ 473,000
CIM SBA | Lending division
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Reimbursement of costs	$ (1,638,000)