CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 98,253	$ (23,706)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gains on sales of bonds and loans	(78,450)	(366)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	(10,895)	(5,399)
Net gains related to CFVs	(32,964)	(5,407)
Provisions for credit losses and impairment	16,962	8,502
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships of CFVs	20,323	25,917
Subordinate debt effective yield amortization and interest accruals	6,188	8,629
Net gains on early extinguishment of liabilities	(36,179)	0
Depreciation and other amortization	15,742	7,274
Foreign currency loss	9,136	1,237
Stock-based compensation expense	2,137	294
Other	(2,322)	(1,312)
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,931	15,663
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances on and purchases of bonds	0	(6,189)
Principal payments and sales proceeds received on bonds	15,203	15,721
Advances on and originations of loans held for investment	(278)	(450)
Principal payments received on loans held for investment	563	2,400
Insurance recoveries on real estate	0	753
Investments in property partnerships and real estate	(20,509)	(46,033)
Proceeds from the sale of real estate and other investments	39,437	3,222
Proceeds received on redemption of investment in preferred stock	0	5,000
Net proceeds from the sale of a subsidiary company	19,151	0
Increase in restricted cash	(24,784)	(11,278)
Capital distributions received from investments in partnerships	12,728	8,816
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	41,511	(28,038)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from borrowing activity	116,461	35,482
Repayment of borrowings	(136,639)	(34,647)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(1,202)	(889)
Contributions from holders of noncontrolling interests	8,051	20,462
Purchase of treasury stock	(516)	0
Distributions paid to perpetual preferred shareholders of a subsidiary company	(4,636)	(7,050)
Redemption of perpetual preferred shares	(36,213)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(54,694)	13,358
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(5,252)	983
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	50,857	42,116
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	45,605	43,099
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest paid	26,868	31,235
Income taxes paid	254	146
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized (losses) gains included in other comprehensive income	(123,505)	22,741
Debt and liabilities extinguished through sales and collections on bonds and loans	4,252	11,400
Increase in real estate assets due to initial consolidation of funds and ventures	43,943	47,058
Decrease in bond assets due to initial consolidation of funds and ventures	37,777	34,108
Increase Decrease In Liabilities Of Equity Method Investment	6,737	0
Increase in real estate assets and decrease in loan investments due to foreclosure	0	7,711
Increase in common equity due to purchase of noncontrolling interests	0	2,203
Decrease in noncontrolling interests due to sale of common equity	0	2,203
Subsidiaries [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in restricted cash	(14,672)	0
Net change in assets and liabilities due to the sale of a subsidiary company:
Net decrease in interest receivable	4,612	0
Net decrease in interest payable	(1,052)	0
Net decrease in bonds available-for-sale	678,983	0
Increase related to new borrowing activities	169,601	0
Net decrease in perpetual preferred shares and related distributions	(122,669)	0
Decrease related to borrowings transferred to purchaser	$ (695,652)	$ 0