SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Total interest income	$ 14,858		$ 16,879		$ 30,796		$ 33,962
Total interest expense	13,726	[1]	6,675	[1]	20,015	[1]	13,532	[1]
Net interest income	1,132		10,204		10,781		20,430
Total fee and other income	517		623		1,058		1,173
Total non-interest revenue	11,979		8,735		20,064		15,400
Total revenues, net of interest expense	13,111		18,939		30,845		35,830
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,616	[2]	4,703	[2]	7,745	[2]	9,551	[2]
Other expenses	1,856		1,610		3,789		1,995
Total operating and other expenses	29,954		20,049		58,441		37,963
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	8,484		2,550		8,484		2,550
Net gains related to CFVs					29,127		10,015
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships					(13,783)		(19,431)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,873)		(1,064)		29,390		(9,664)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(95)		(23)		1,432		(41)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	418		(331)		5,135		(591)
Net income (loss)	(5,550)		(1,418)		35,957		(10,296)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(451)		2,414		38,825		6,256
US Operations [Member]
Total interest income	16,168	[3]	17,777	[3]	33,298	[3]	35,617	[3]
Total interest expense	13,726	[3]	6,675	[3]	20,015	[3]	13,532	[3]
Net interest income	2,442		11,102		13,283		22,085
Total fee and other income	2,338	[4]	2,805	[4]	4,553	[4]	5,374	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	2,338		2,805		4,553		5,374
Total revenues, net of interest expense	4,780		13,907		17,836		27,459
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,583		4,669		7,679		9,478
Operating expenses	5,825	[4]	3,504	[4]	11,827	[4]	8,225	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	480		(23)		833		(3,197)
Other expenses	2,515	[5],[6]	2,479	[5],[6]	5,819	[5],[6]	3,994	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	12,403		10,629		26,158		18,500
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	921		(899)		38,368		(665)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	8,484		2,550		8,484		2,550
Net gains related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,782		4,929		38,530		10,844
Income tax (expense) benefit	(95)		(23)		1,432		(41)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	418		322		3,945		698
Net income (loss)	2,105		5,228		43,907		11,501
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(1,673)		(2,284)		(3,678)		(4,568)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	432		2,944		40,229		6,933
US Operations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0	[6]	0	[6]	0	[6]	0	[6]
US Operations [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
International Operations [Member]
Total interest income	8	[3]	9	[3]	15	[3]	23	[3]
Total interest expense	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Net interest income	8		9		15		23
Total fee and other income	706	[4]	883	[4]	1,517	[4]	2,202	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	706		883		1,517		2,202
Total revenues, net of interest expense	714		892		1,532		2,225
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	33		34		66		73
Operating expenses	1,627	[4]	1,561	[4]	3,151	[4]	3,241	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	137	[5],[6]	(29)	[5],[6]	68	[5],[6]	(194)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	1,797		1,566		3,285		3,120
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	0		0		0		0
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,083)		(674)		(1,753)		(895)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	(1,083)		(674)		(1,753)		(895)
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(883)		(530)		(1,404)		(677)
International Operations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	200	[6]	144	[6]	349	[6]	218	[6]
International Operations [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Consolidated Funds and Ventures [Member]
Total interest income	3,784	[3]	2,380	[3]	4,744	[3]	3,222	[3]
Total interest expense	1,795	[3]	1,305	[3]	3,492	[3]	2,474	[3]
Net interest income	1,989		1,075		1,252		748
Total fee and other income	6,366	[4]	4,188	[4]	11,653	[4]	7,916	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	6,366		4,188		11,653		7,916
Total revenues, net of interest expense	8,355		5,263		12,905		8,664
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	6,193	[4]	5,136	[4]	11,740	[4]	10,512	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	11,095	[5],[6]	4,681	[5],[6]	20,784	[5],[6]	10,154	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	17,288		9,817		32,524		20,666
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	8,933		5,290		23,920		10,015
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(6,637)	[5]	(6,119)	[5]	(11,840)	[5]	(17,756)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(6,637)		(5,383)		(7,539)		(19,743)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		(653)		1,190		(1,289)
Net income (loss)	(6,637)		(6,036)		(6,349)		(21,032)
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	0		0		0		0
Consolidated Funds and Ventures [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	6,637	[6]	5,383	[6]	7,539	[6]	19,743	[6]
Consolidated Funds and Ventures [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		653		(1,190)		1,289
Income Allocation Reclasses [Member]
Total interest income	(1,318)	[3]	(907)	[3]	(2,517)	[3]	(1,678)	[3]
Total interest expense	(1,318)	[3]	(907)	[3]	(2,517)	[3]	(1,678)	[3]
Net interest income	0		0		0		0
Total fee and other income	(1,215)	[4]	(1,521)	[4]	(2,403)	[4]	(3,314)	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	(1,215)		(1,521)		(2,403)		(3,314)
Total revenues, net of interest expense	(1,215)		(1,521)		(2,403)		(3,314)
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	(1,215)	[4]	(1,521)	[4]	(2,403)	[4]	(3,314)	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	(796)	[5],[6]	(840)	[5],[6]	(2,098)	[5],[6]	(1,805)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	(2,011)		(2,361)		(4,501)		(5,119)
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	0		0		0		0
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(731)	[5]	(776)	[5]	(1,946)	[5]	(1,675)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	65		64		152		130
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	65		64		152		130
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	0		0		0		0
Income Allocation Reclasses [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(65)	[6]	(64)	[6]	(152)	[6]	(130)	[6]
Income Allocation Reclasses [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
CFVs Adjustments [Member]
Total interest income	(3,784)	[3]	(2,380)	[3]	(4,744)	[3]	(3,222)	[3]
Total interest expense	(477)	[3]	(398)	[3]	(975)	[3]	(796)	[3]
Net interest income	(3,307)		(1,982)		(3,769)		(2,426)
Total fee and other income	(6,366)	[4]	(4,188)	[4]	(11,653)	[4]	(7,916)	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	10,150		6,568		16,397		11,138
Total non-interest revenue	3,784		2,380		4,744		3,222
Total revenues, net of interest expense	477		398		975		796
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	(4,978)	[4]	(3,615)	[4]	(9,337)	[4]	(7,198)	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	(11,095)	[5],[6]	(4,681)	[5],[6]	(20,784)	[5],[6]	(10,154)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	16,550		8,694		31,096		18,148
Total operating and other expenses	477		398		975		796
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	(8,933)		(5,290)		(23,920)		(10,015)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains related to CFVs	8,933		5,290		23,920		10,015
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	0		0		0		0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	0		0		0		0
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	0		0		0		0
CFVs Adjustments [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0	[6]	0	[6]	0	[6]	0	[6]
CFVs Adjustments [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
MMA Consolidated [Member]
Total interest income	14,858	[3]	16,879	[3]	30,796	[3]	33,962	[3]
Total interest expense	13,726	[3]	6,675	[3]	20,015	[3]	13,532	[3]
Net interest income	1,132		10,204		10,781		20,430
Total fee and other income	1,829	[4]	2,167	[4]	3,667	[4]	4,262	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	10,150		6,568		16,397		11,138
Total non-interest revenue	11,979		8,735		20,064		15,400
Total revenues, net of interest expense	13,111		18,939		30,845		35,830
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,616		4,703		7,745		9,551
Operating expenses	7,452	[4]	5,065	[4]	14,978	[4]	11,466	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	480		(23)		833		(3,197)
Other expenses	1,856	[5],[6]	1,610	[5],[6]	3,789	[5],[6]	1,995	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	16,550		8,694		31,096		18,148
Total operating and other expenses	29,954		20,049		58,441		37,963
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	921		(899)		38,368		(665)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	8,484		2,550		8,484		2,550
Net gains related to CFVs	8,933		5,290		23,920		10,015
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(7,368)	[5]	(6,895)	[5]	(13,786)	[5]	(19,431)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,873)		(1,064)		29,390		(9,664)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(95)		(23)		1,432		(41)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	418		(331)		5,135		(591)
Net income (loss)	(5,550)		(1,418)		35,957		(10,296)
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(1,673)		(2,284)		(3,678)		(4,568)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(451)		2,414		38,825		6,256
MMA Consolidated [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	6,772	[6]	5,463	[6]	7,736	[6]	19,831	[6]
MMA Consolidated [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	$ 0		$ 653		$ (1,190)		$ 1,289

[1] Represents interest expense related to debt which finances interest-bearing assets. See Note 6, “Debt.”

[2] Represents interest expense related to debt which does not finance interest-bearing assets. See Note 6, “Debt.”

[3] Primarily related to interest on bonds that the Company earned by holding the bond but which is eliminated because the Company consolidates the Lower Tier Property Partnership and its related real estate. These Lower Tier Property Partnerships each have a mortgage debt obligation that collateralizes a bond.

[4] Primarily related to asset management fees earned by the Company for asset management services provided to the SA Fund and LIHTC Funds.

[5] Primarily relates to equity in losses from the Lower Tier Property Partnerships associated with the Company’s LIHTC Funds for which the Company has provided bond financing to the Lower Tier Property Partnerships.

[6] Includes losses recorded by the Company related to guarantees provided by the Company associated with third party debt obligations of certain Lower Tier Property Partnerships.