DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, commitments and contingencies, and revenues and expenses. Management has made significant estimates in certain areas, including the determination of fair values for bonds, derivative financial instruments, guarantee obligations, and certain assets and liabilities of consolidated funds and ventures (“CFVs”). Management has also made significant estimates in the determination of impairment on bonds and real estate investments. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and of entities that are considered to be variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary, as well as those entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest, including wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operations of the entity are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. See Note 1, “Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” to the consolidated financial statements in our 2012 Form 10-K, which discusses our consolidation presentation and our significant accounting policies.
Changes in Presentation [Policy Text Block]	Changes in Presentation We have revised the presentation of our consolidated statements of operations so that we now separately present “Net interest income”, which is interest income less interest expense on debt which finances interest-bearing assets. This presentation change had no impact on “Net (loss) income.”
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassifications The Company made reclassifications to discontinued operations on its previously issued consolidated statements of operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, as a result of certain discontinued operations occurring after the first quarter of 2012.
Interim Period Presentation [Policy Text Block]	Interim Period Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The consolidated financial statements are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in our 2012 Form 10-K. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.