Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments			2
Interest income	$ 2,541	$ 4,236	$ 7,959	$ 19,858
Net (losses) gains on sales of assets	912	492	5,162	956
Other revenues	1,502	155	2,387	251
Other revenues		197		532
BB&T's priority return in FAR distributions	(783)	(1,040)	(2,702)	(1,040)
Interest expense	(336)	(1,402)	(839)	(9,695)
Reversal (provisions) for loan losses	4,433	(257)	3,502	1,135
Asset impairments	73	(1,649)	(5,069)	(4,477)
Other expenses	(8,810)	(11,481)	23,691	(39,704)
Equity earnings in Woodbridge	8,183		11,625
Segments income (loss) before income taxes	7,715	(10,904)	(1,666)	(32,435)
Provision for income tax	20	(12,512)	20	(12,511)
Net income (loss)	7,695	1,608	(1,686)	(19,924)
Total assets	409,108	488,354	409,108	488,354	470,703
Equity method investments included in total assets	80,519		80,519
Expenditures for segment assets	55		76
Depreciation and amortization	164		380
BBX Capital Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	97	2,270	623	17,892
Net (losses) gains on sales of assets	(253)	164	3,645	628
Other revenues	171		928
Other revenues		252		587
Interest expense	(336)	(1,402)	(839)	(9,695)
Reversal (provisions) for loan losses	538	(1,324)	1,987	68
Asset impairments	695	(1,083)	(222)	(3,911)
Other expenses	(6,355)	(10,801)	17,275	(39,024)
Equity earnings in Woodbridge	8,183		11,625
Segments income (loss) before income taxes	2,740	(11,924)	472	(33,455)
Provision for income tax		(12,904)		(12,903)
Net income (loss)	2,740	980	472	(20,552)
Total assets	438,709	422,513	438,709	422,513
Equity method investments included in total assets	80,519		80,519
Expenditures for segment assets	3		24
Depreciation and amortization	55		163
Florida Asset Resolution Group, LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	2,444	1,966	7,336	1,966
Net (losses) gains on sales of assets	1,165	328	1,517	328
Other revenues	1,372		1,601
BB&T's priority return in FAR distributions	(824)	(1,095)	(2,844)	(1,095)
Reversal (provisions) for loan losses	3,895	1,067	1,515	1,067
Asset impairments	(622)	(566)	(4,847)	(566)
Other expenses	(2,455)	(680)	6,416	(680)
Segments income (loss) before income taxes	4,975	1,020	(2,138)	1,020
Provision for income tax	20	392	20	392
Net income (loss)	4,955	628	(2,158)	628
Total assets	203,762	316,287	203,762	316,287
Expenditures for segment assets	52		52
Depreciation and amortization	109		217
Adjusting And Elimination Entries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other revenues	(41)		(142)
Other revenues		(55)		(55)
BB&T's priority return in FAR distributions	41	55	142	55
Total assets	$ (233,363)	$ (250,446)	$ (233,363)	$ (250,446)