FAIR VALUE (Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments ) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 28,243	$ 35,693
Restricted cash	5,635	21,271
Asset management fee receivable		116
Loans held for investment	67,299	736
Consolidated Funds and Ventures
Assets:
Restricted cash		23,495
Loans held for investment		65
Liabilities:
Notes payable and other debt		6,712
Level 1
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	28,243	35,693
Restricted cash	5,635	21,271
Level 1 | Consolidated Funds and Ventures
Assets:
Restricted cash		23,495
Level 3
Assets:
Asset management fee receivable		116
Loans held for investment	66,339	1,754
Level 3 | Consolidated Funds and Ventures
Assets:
Loans held for investment		497
Bond Related Debt
Liabilities:
Notes payable and other debt	39,255	83,838
Bond Related Debt | Level 3
Liabilities:
Notes payable and other debt	39,289	83,879
Non-Bond Related Debt
Liabilities:
Notes payable and other debt	12,210	25,592
Non-Bond Related Debt | Level 3
Liabilities:
Notes payable and other debt	11,479	26,014
Subordinated Loan | MFH
Liabilities:
Subordinated debt	97,722	99,997
Subordinated Loan | Level 3 | MFH
Liabilities:
Subordinated debt	$ 46,778	$ 43,256