Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment in mortgages and loans, net		$ 1,280,285	$ 1,606,486
Real estate, accumulated depreciation		138,214	158,688
Investments in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation	[1]	716,432	986,942
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization		22,230	13,234
Indebtedness, unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		36,892	53,092
Indebtedness, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		$ 1,751,082	$ 2,399,475
Preferred shares, authorized		25,000,000	25,000,000
Common shares, par value		$ 0.03	$ 0.03
Common shares, shares authorized		200,000,000	200,000,000
Common shares, shares issued		92,295,478	91,586,767
Common shares, shares outstanding		92,295,478	91,586,767
Unvested restricted common share awards		1,079,194	742,764
VIE
Investment in mortgages and loans, net		$ 1,184,588	$ 1,428,961
Real estate, accumulated depreciation		31,652	26,398
Investments in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		192,070	252,376
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization		3,740	1,446
Indebtedness, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs		$ 1,288,258	$ 1,762,672
Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares authorized		4,000,000	4,000,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		3,536,000	4,000,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		3,536,000	4,000,000
7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		8,069,288	8,069,288
Preferred shares, dividend rate		7.75%	7.75%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		5,344,353	5,306,084
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		5,344,353	5,306,084
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
8.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		4,300,000	4,300,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate		8.375%	8.375%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		2,340,969	2,340,969
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		2,340,969	2,340,969
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
8.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		3,600,000	3,600,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate		8.875%	8.875%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued		1,640,425	1,640,425
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding		1,640,425	1,640,425
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred shares, authorized		4,000,000	4,000,000
Preferred shares, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01

[1] As of December 31, 2016, three of our multifamily properties, with a carrying amount of $62,428, and two of our parcels of land, with a carrying amount of $14,233, were considered held-for-sale.