GUARANTEES AND COLLATERAL (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted cash	$ 76,976		$ 55,313
Bonds Available-for-Sale	868,668		925,346
Real Estate Held-for-Use	171,424		129,687
Investment in Preferred stock	31,371
Other Assets	35,225		32,259
Total	1,183,664		1,142,605
Senior Interests in and Debt Owed to Securitization Trusts [Member]
Restricted cash	1,668	[1]	2	[1]
Bonds Available-for-Sale	815,033	[1]	865,992	[1]
Real Estate Held-for-Use	2,619	[1]	2,619	[1]
Investment in Preferred stock	0	[1]
Other Assets	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total	819,320	[1]	868,613	[1]
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Restricted cash	116	[2]	13	[2]
Bonds Available-for-Sale	0	[2]	0	[2]
Real Estate Held-for-Use	1,735	[2]	1,735	[2]
Investment in Preferred stock	0	[2]
Other Assets	12,126	[2]	14,302	[2]
Total	13,977	[2]	16,050	[2]
Other Assets [Member]
Restricted cash	19,094	[3]	1,341	[3]
Bonds Available-for-Sale	53,635	[3]	59,354	[3]
Real Estate Held-for-Use	13,643	[3]	13,402	[3]
Investment in Preferred stock	31,371	[3]
Other Assets	331	[3]	389	[3]
Total	118,074	[3]	74,486	[3]
Consolidated Funds and Ventures [Member]
Restricted cash	56,098	[4]	53,957	[4]
Bonds Available-for-Sale	0	[4]	0	[4]
Real Estate Held-for-Use	153,427	[4]	111,931	[4]
Investment in Preferred stock	0	[4]
Other Assets	22,768	[4]	17,568	[4]
Total	$ 232,293	[4]	$ 183,456	[4]

[1] Includes assets held by bond securitization trusts as well as assets pledged as collateral for bond securitizations.

[2] The Company pledges bonds, loans, investments in preferred stock, investments in solar facilities and an investment in a mixed-use real estate development as collateral for notes payable.

[3] The Company pledges collateral in connection with secured borrowings, derivative transactions, other liabilities, guarantee exposure and leases. The Company may elect to pledge collateral on behalf of the Company’s customers in order to facilitate credit and other collateral requirements. In addition, cash may be restricted for funding obligations.

[4] These are assets held by non-profit entities which are consolidated by the Company. The real estate serves as collateral to bonds eliminated in consolidation.