Schedule I - Financial Information (Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (204,270)	$ (1,810,475)	$ 69,620
Investing activities
Principal payments received on mortgage loans related to Residual Trusts	103,637	108,274	97,038
Cash proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net related to Residual Trusts	10,842	7,730	7,861
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash and cash equivalents	11,333	(8,156)	41,332
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(197,061)	(492,283)	(103,592)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries and variable interest entities	0	0	0
Returns of capital from subsidiaries and variable interest entities	0	0	0
Change in due from affiliates	0	0	0
Other	1,449	(14,165)	(2,751)
Cash flows used in investing activities	(1,244,111)	(3,776,083)	(451,353)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of corporate debt, net of debt issuance costs	0	3,106,263	957,037
Payments on corporate debt	(17,220)	(362,931)	(75,292)
Debt prepayment penalty	0	0	(29,440)
Other debt issuance costs paid	(17,281)	(9,833)	(7,192)
Extinguishments and settlement of debt	0	(1,405,424)	(690,000)
Secondary equity offering, net of issuance costs	0	0	276,013
Change in due to affiliates	0	0	0
Other	(42,396)	618	3,302
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities	1,276,671	5,636,389	805,048
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(171,710)	49,831	423,315
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	491,885	442,054	18,739
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	320,175	491,885	442,054
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities	(74,452)	(99,050)	(78,619)
Investing activities
Principal payments received on mortgage loans related to Residual Trusts	535	84	148
Cash proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net related to Residual Trusts	227	254	670
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,246	(752)	31,175
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(477,021)	(130,000)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries and variable interest entities	83,544	331,107	31,118
Returns of capital from subsidiaries and variable interest entities	76,214	37,796	37,536
Change in due from affiliates	(88,360)	688,070	(12,469)
Other	(2,283)	(15,200)	0
Cash flows used in investing activities	83,755	(1,474,016)	(79,120)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of corporate debt, net of debt issuance costs	0	3,106,263	962,524
Payments on corporate debt	(15,000)	(360,826)	(65,000)
Debt prepayment penalty	0	0	(29,440)
Other debt issuance costs paid	0	(1,936)	(6,179)
Extinguishments and settlement of debt	0	(1,405,424)	(690,000)
Secondary equity offering, net of issuance costs	0	0	276,013
Change in due to affiliates	(98,071)	(29,618)	72,588
Other	6,921	(1,777)	3,076
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities	(106,150)	1,306,682	523,582
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(96,847)	(266,384)	365,843
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	100,009	366,393	550
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 3,162	$ 100,009	$ 366,393