FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investment in preferred stock	$ 31,371	$ 31,371
Investments in preferred stock Fair Value		35,807
Loans Receivable, Carrying Amount	1,110	1,072
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure		383
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	1,018,707	1,042,959
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Investments in preferred stock Fair Value	0
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Investments in preferred stock Fair Value	0
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Investments in preferred stock Fair Value	36,613
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	333
Senior Interest in and Debt Owed to Securitization Trusts [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	577,107	589,592
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		589,778
Senior Interest in and Debt Owed to Securitization Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Senior Interest in and Debt Owed to Securitization Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	577,245
Senior Interest in and Debt Owed to Securitization Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	53,503	57,729
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		59,001
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Non Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	75,793	56,985
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		48,696
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Non Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Non Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	53,471
Notes Payable and Other Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Non Bond Related Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	68,252
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	141,401
Subordinated Debt [Member] | MuniMae Holdings II, LLC [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	29,827	30,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		30,000
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Mma Financial Holdings, Inc [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	111,574	164,500
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		47,219
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | MuniMae Holdings II, LLC [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Mma Financial Holdings, Inc [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | MuniMae Holdings II, LLC [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Mma Financial Holdings, Inc [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	42,869
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | MuniMae Holdings II, LLC [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	29,827
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Mma Financial Holdings, Inc [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	121,000	88,720
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		91,517
Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	121,000
Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Liabilities of consolidated funds and ventures, Notes payable [Member]
Long Term Debt, Carrying Amount	49,903	55,433
Long-term Debt, Fair Value		55,580
Liabilities of consolidated funds and ventures, Notes payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	0
Liabilities of consolidated funds and ventures, Notes payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	49,706
Liabilities of consolidated funds and ventures, Notes payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 35