SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Total interest income	$ 4,380		$ 16,225		$ 35,177		$ 50,187
Total interest expense	2,199	[1]	6,547	[1]	22,213	[1]	20,090	[1]
Net interest income	2,181		9,678		12,964		30,097
Total fee and other income	809		489		1,866		1,662
Total non-interest revenue	9,610		5,896		22,681		14,549
Total revenues, net of interest expense	11,791		15,574		35,645		44,646
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,628	[2]	4,639	[2]	11,374	[2]	14,179	[2]
Other expenses	1,178		955		4,965		2,950
Total operating and other expenses	25,976		20,820		78,414		52,708
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	2,411		2,853		10,895		5,404
Net gains (losses) related to CFVs					32,964		5,407
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships					(20,323)		(25,917)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	62,015		(13,988)		90,417		(24,335)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(123)		(24)		1,309		(65)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	403		602		6,527		694
Net income (loss)	62,295		(13,410)		98,253		(23,706)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	73,316		718		112,142		6,974
US Operations [Member]
Total interest income	4,644	[3]	17,387	[3]	36,931		51,946	[3]
Total interest expense	2,199	[3]	6,547	[3]	22,213	[3]	20,090	[3]
Net interest income	2,445		10,840		14,718		31,856
Total fee and other income	2,651	[4]	2,336	[4]	7,203	[4]	7,690	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	2,651		2,336		7,203		7,690
Total revenues, net of interest expense	5,096		13,176		21,921		39,546
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,593		4,607		11,273		14,074
Operating expenses	4,016	[4]	3,722	[4]	15,843	[4]	11,948	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	939		919		1,772		(2,278)
Other expenses	1,463	[5],[6]	2,038	[5],[6]	7,265	[5],[6]	5,993	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	10,011		11,286		36,153		29,737
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	76,304		(501)		114,672		(1,167)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	2,411		2,853		10,895		5,404
Net gains (losses) 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	73,800		4,242		111,335		14,046
Income tax (expense) benefit	(123)		(24)		1,309		(65)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	274		(393)		5,215		1,342
Net income (loss)	73,951		3,825		117,859		15,323
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(36)		(2,284)		(3,714)		(6,852)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	73,915		1,541		114,145		8,471
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	10	[3]	7	[3]	25	[3]	30	[3]
Total interest expense	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Net interest income	10		7		25		30
Total fee and other income	703	[4]	761	[4]	2,220	[4]	2,964	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	703		761		2,220		2,964
Total revenues, net of interest expense	713		768		2,245		2,994
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	35		32		101		105
Operating expenses	1,356	[4]	1,546	[4]	4,507	[4]	4,786	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	5		0		5		0
Other expenses	72	[5],[6]	152	[5],[6]	140	[5],[6]	(42)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	1,468		1,730		4,753		4,849
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	16		0		16		0
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains (losses) 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	(739)		(962)		(2,492)		(1,855)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	(739)		(962)		(2,492)		(1,855)
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	(599)		(823)		(2,003)		(1,497)
International Operations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	140	[6]	139	[6]	489	[6]	358	[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	3,739	[3]	2,267	[3]	7,784	[3]	4,743	[3]
Total interest expense	1,527	[3]	1,610	[3]	4,007	[3]	3,026	[3]
Net interest income	2,212		657		3,777		1,717
Total fee and other income	3,736	[4]	1,800	[4]	9,096	[4]	3,715	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	3,736		1,800		9,096		3,715
Total revenues, net of interest expense	5,948		2,457		12,873		5,432
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	4,915	[4]	3,191	[4]	12,224	[4]	9,143	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	9,905	[5],[6]	6,675	[5],[6]	29,118	[5],[6]	15,306	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	14,820		9,866		41,342		24,449
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	3,812		(4,608)		27,732		5,407
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains (losses) related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(6,111)	[5]	(5,295)	[5]	(17,951)		(23,051)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(11,171)		(17,312)		(18,688)		(36,661)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	129		995		1,312		(648)
Net income (loss)	(11,042)		(16,317)		(17,376)		(37,309)
(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	11,171	[6]	17,312	[6]	18,688	[6]	36,661	[6]
Consolidated Funds and Ventures [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(129)		(995)		(1,312)		648
Income Allocation Reclasses [Member]
Total interest income	(274)	[3]	(1,169)	[3]	(1,779)	[3]	(1,789)	[3]
Total interest expense	(274)	[3]	(1,169)	[3]	(1,779)	[3]	(1,789)	[3]
Net interest income	0		0		0		0
Total fee and other income	(1,219)	[4]	(1,268)	[4]	(3,622)	[4]	(4,563)	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total non-interest revenue	(1,219)		(1,268)		(3,622)		(4,563)
Total revenues, net of interest expense	(1,219)		(1,268)		(3,622)		(4,563)
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	(1,219)	[4]	(1,268)	[4]	(3,622)	[4]	(4,563)	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	(357)	[5],[6]	(1,235)	[5],[6]	(2,440)	[5],[6]	(3,001)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	0		0		0		0
Total operating and other expenses	(1,576)		(2,503)		(6,062)		(7,564)
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 (losses) related to CFVs	0		0		0		0
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(232)	[5]	(1,191)	[5]	(2,178)	[5]	(2,866)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	125		44		262		135
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	125		44		262		135
(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	(125)	[6]	(44)	[6]	(262)	[6]	(135)	[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	(3,739)	[3]	(2,267)	[3]	(7,784)		(4,743)	[3]
Total interest expense	(1,253)	[3]	(441)	[3]	(2,228)	[3]	(1,237)	[3]
Net interest income	(2,486)		(1,826)		(5,556)		(3,506)
Total fee and other income	(3,736)	[4]	(1,800)	[4]	(9,096)	[4]	(3,715)	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	7,475		4,067		16,880		8,458
Total non-interest revenue	3,739		2,267		7,784		4,743
Total revenues, net of interest expense	1,253		441		2,228		1,237
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses	(3,696)	[4]	(1,923)	[4]	(8,602)	[4]	(4,580)	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	0		0		0		0
Other expenses	(9,905)	[5],[6]	(6,675)	[5],[6]	(29,118)	[5],[6]	(15,306)	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	14,854		9,039		39,948		21,123
Total operating and other expenses	1,253		441		2,228		1,237
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	(3,812)		4,608		(27,732)		(5,407)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	0		0		0		0
Net gains (losses) related to CFVs	3,812		(4,608)		27,732		5,407
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	4,380	[3]	16,225	[3]	35,177	[3]	50,187	[3]
Total interest expense	2,199	[3]	6,547	[3]	22,213	[3]	20,090	[3]
Net interest income	2,181		9,678		12,964		30,097
Total fee and other income	2,135	[4]	1,829	[4]	5,801	[4]	6,091	[4]
Revenue from CFVs	7,475		4,067		16,880		8,458
Total non-interest revenue	9,610		5,896		22,681		14,549
Total revenues, net of interest expense	11,791		15,574		35,645		44,646
Operating and other expenses:
Interest expense	3,628		4,639		11,374		14,179
Operating expenses	5,372	[4]	5,268	[4]	20,350	[4]	16,734	[4]
Impairment on bonds and provision for loan losses	944		919		1,777		(2,278)
Other expenses	1,178	[5],[6]	955	[5],[6]	4,965	[5],[6]	2,950	[5],[6]
Expenses from CFVs	14,854		9,039		39,948		21,123
Total operating and other expenses	25,976		20,820		78,414		52,708
Net gains on assets, derivatives and extinguishment of liabilities	76,320		(501)		114,688		(1,167)
Net gains due to real estate consolidation and foreclosure	2,411		2,853		10,895		5,404
Net gains (losses) related to CFVs	3,812		(4,608)		27,732		5,407
Equity in losses from Lower Tier Property Partnerships	(6,343)	[5]	(6,486)	[5]	(20,129)	[5]	(25,917)	[5]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	62,015		(13,988)		90,417		(24,335)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(123)		(24)		1,309		(65)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	403		602		6,527		694
Net income (loss)	62,295		(13,410)		98,253		(23,706)
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(36)		(2,284)		(3,714)		(6,852)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders	73,316		718		112,142		6,974
MMA Consolidated [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	11,186	[6]	17,407	[6]	18,915	[6]	36,884	[6]
MMA Consolidated [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Operating and other expenses:
(Income) loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	$ (129)		$ (995)		$ (1,312)		$ 648

[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 two non-profits and the associated Lower Tier Property Partnerships 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.